Friday, April 11, 2014

The Top 3 Anti-Aging Supplements

Reposted from Life Extension
http://blog.lef.org/2013/10/the-top-3-anti-aging-supplements.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=normal

Maylin Rodriguez-Paez, RN

It’s no coincidence that our name is Life Extension. Our sole purpose is to find ways to extend the healthy, human life span. And if you haven’t noticed yet, it really is our passion.

Of course, eating healthy and exercising are top priorities for any anti-aging program, but we think there’s more to the story than that.

Nature has given us additional “tools” in the form of antioxidants to help fight and even reverse aging. As such, it’s no surprise that exploring them in depth has been a major focal point of ours for decades.

So what are our “favorite” antioxidants for helping to slow the aging process after all of these years? Below, we’ll dive into three key supplements that may just deserve this highly-coveted status.

First Things First: Why Do we Age?

Scientists aren’t exactly sure why we age, but multiple theories exist. One is the mitochondrial theory of aging. It states that the root cause of aging is oxidative stress to the mitochondria.

Mitochondria are the energy powerhouses of cells. Their job is to produce ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate), the energy currency of all cells. During production, however, free radicals are formed, an effect that damages mitochondria.

Through time, the mitochondria in your cells “take a beating” … their numbers eventually decrease, making you vulnerable to the effects of aging and disease. In fact, many diseases we associate with growing old (type II diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart failure, and cancer1-5) are actually associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.

Luckily, certain nutrients can help.

CoQ10 Extends the Lives of Animals

A house can’t run without energy, and neither can your body. That’s where CoQ10 comes into play. This vitamin-like substance helps the mitochondria “burn fuel” more effectively. It helps the energy transfer needed to make ATP. Without it, mitochondria become dysfunctional and aging accelerates.6
 CoQ10 supplementation has been shown to extend the lives of different species. It lowers the oxidative stress inflicted on mitochondria. In one study, mice given CoQ10 lived 11.7% years longer,7 which is approximately 9 human extra years based on today’s life expectancy (78.5 years).

PQQ Helps Grow New Mitochondria

PQQ is an antioxidant found in all plants. Animals need it for growth and reproduction. Like CoQ10, it helps the energy transfer process of mitochondria. But there’s one thing that makes it very unique and important: it increases the number of mitochondria in cells.8

Studies show, animals deprived of PQQ present stunted growth, decreased immune function, and fewer mitochondria in their tissue.9-11 When given PQQ, these effects are reversed.

PQQ is also one of the strongest antioxidants around, hands down. It’s actually about 5,000 times more powerful at withstanding oxidation than vitamin C.12

Carnitine Decreases Death Rates

Carnitine is nearly found in all cells in the human body. It transports fats to the mitochondria where they’re “burned” for energy. With age, carnitine levels drop significantly leaving the mitochondria vulnerable to destruction.

Carnitine guards nerve cells against damage. A particular form called acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) prevents the accumulation of amyloid plaque, an abnormal protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.13 It also enhances cognition. In different studies, elderly people taking ALCAR show improved memory and mental status scores.14-15
 Your heart needs carnitine to function optimally. Decreased levels weaken the heart, compromising function. In one study, heart attack survivors taking carnitine showed decreased blood pressure levels, improved lipids, and a decreased death rate compared to a placebo group (12.5% versus 1.2%).16

The Bottom Line

Aging starts at the cellular level — what we see on the outside is only a very small part of the picture. Powerful antioxidants such as Carnitine, PQQ, and CoQ10 have proven to be strong allies for optimizing cellular energy, which may very well be the key to living a long and healthy life.

Are you supplementing with these three antioxidants? We certainly are!

References:

  1. Cardiovasc Res. 2010 Nov 1;88(2):229-40.
  2. Exp Physiol. 2007 Mar;92(2):333-9.
  3. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2001 Jun;33(6):1065-89.
  4. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2011 Mar 30;35(2):320-30.
  5. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 May;1067:182-90.
  6. J Biol Chem. 1997 Aug 1;272(31):19199-204.
  7. Exp Gerontol. 2004 Feb;39(2):189-94.
  8. J Biol Chem. 2010 Jan 1;285:142-52.
  9. J Nutr. 2006 Feb;136(2):390-6.
  10. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Feb;228(2):160-6.
  11. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Nov;1760(11):1741-8.
  12. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Sep;14(3):268-77.
  13. Rejuvenation Res.2011 Dec;14(6):669-79.
  14. Drugs Exp Clin Res.1994;20(4):169-76.
  15. Ann N Y Acad Sci.2004 Nov;1033:108-16.
  16. Drugs Exp Clin Res.1992;18(8):355-65.
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