Monthly Archive for December, 2011

Healthy Circulation: Go with the Flow

Published on December 21, 2011 in healthy circulation. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Healthy Circulation: Go with the Flow

Healthy blood circulation through the cardiovascular system depends on two major factors. The first factor that needs to be in place is a healthy heart. The heart is the pump that keeps blood moving throughout the body. The second major factor that’s necessary is healthy arteries and veins. The blood vessels serve as the conduits for blood to flow to the tissues. Akin to a highway network, the veins and arteries that make up the passageways of the circulatory system need to be made up of healthy cells and need to be clean and unclogged with traffic. There are a number of issues that can affect healthy circulation. Let’s look at a few of the major ones.

Blood Sugar Control and Circulation
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) allows too much sugar to interact with the proteins that line the inner walls of your blood vessels. In your blood vessels, sugar + protein = AGE (advanced glycation endproducts – sugar-protein complexes that destroy the function of the protein and act as “debris” stuck to the blood vessel walls – sort of like rust along the inside of a pipe). This traffic can block flow and prevent capillaries from nourishing our cells. Several ways to ensure blood sugar levels stay healthy include dietary measures such as a low-sugar low-starch diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy body weight, and dietary supplementation with nutrients like chromium, magnesium, vanadium and extracts of Gymnema sylvestre and Fenugreek.

Maintain Arterial Health
Blood can’t get to those healthy capillaries if it can’t get through your arteries. Keep them wide open by adopting sensible dietary measures such as cutting back on red meats and animal fats. Instead, increase consumption of fatty cold-water fish and fresh garlic cloves (or plenty of garlic powder) plus abundant amounts of fruits and vegetables every day. In addition, daily dietary supplementation with high-quality fish oils, allicin (from garlic), vitamin C, vitamin E, N-acetylcysteine, quercetin, resveratrol and phytonutrients from pomegranates supports arterial health and structure.

Sipping a cup or two of vessel health-promoting green tea is also beneficial, as green tea is a rich source of antioxidants and polyphenols that promote blood vessel health.

Support Venous Flow
Just as important as getting fresh nutritious blood out to your cells is getting the nutrient-depleted blood back to your heart for another cycle. Keep your venous return systems flowing smoothly with daily dietary supplementation of nutrients such as diosmin, hesperidin, Pycnogenol, resveratrol, and horse chestnut seed extract.

Horse Chestnut Seed extract
Often, cells in the walls of the veins become “loose” and leaky with age, allowing for fluids to leak out into the surrounding tissue. While it probably happens inside tissues where its effects cannot be seen, weakness in the veins is most visible when it occurs under or in the skin.

Horse chestnut extract has been recognized for many years as a “tonic for the veins.” Modern research has discovered that horse chestnut extract indeed “tightens up” the spaces between cells in the walls of veins, decreasing leakage. A recently published study showed that horse chestnut extract stimulates mild lateral contraction within the walls of veins, effectively “sealing up” any gaps that might have formed.1

Scientists also reported in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Science that horse chestnut extract contains inhibitors of enzymes that may cause vein health to be compromised when activated.2 Its inhibition of these important enzymes may explain the ability of horse chestnut extract to enhance venous structure and flow.

The prestigious Cochrane Collaboration has performed two intensive analyses of horse chestnut extract (most recently in 2006) and both times has concluded that horse chestnut extract is “efficacious and safe” in promoting healthy veins.3

The experts agree – horse chestnut extract helps to seal leaky veins and is a valuable contributor to every effort to keep your veins and circulatory system healthy.

Diosmin and Hesperidin
Research in Europe has identified a flavonoid compound that supports vein health by providing the benefits that aging blood vessels crave. The phytonutrient diosmin is found in several plants and also can be made from hesperidin, a flavonoid found in the skins of citrus fruits. In commercial products these two flavonoids are combined in a 9:1 ratio of 450 mg of diosmin and 50 mg of hesperidin. When tested in men and women needing nutritional venous support because of age, dietary supplementation with 450 mg of diosmin and 50 mg of hesperidin twice a day for 2 to 6 months improved measures of venous flow and allowed for superior maintenance of healthy vein structure.4

The results of an analysis of published research describing the effects of diosmin plus hesperidin used in combination for venous support were published recently in Angiology.5 The analysis showed that dietary supplementation with 450 mg of diosmin and 50 mg of hesperidin twice a day for 6 months produced venous healing and powerfully supported the beneficial effects of diosmin and hesperidin on blood vessels.

A “gold standard” randomized double-blind placebo controlled human clinical trial demonstrated that diosmin alone (450 mg twice a day for 60 days) has strong benefits for leg veins and comfort that older adults generally experience due to decreased venous function.4

Hesperidin is additionally revered as a strong tissue-supporting antioxidant. Free radical damage to veins leads to many of the vein-related health issues seen today in clinical practice. Adding hesperidin to diosmin thus creates a combination that potently supports venous health by providing protection against free radical attack.

Support of Blood Vessels throughout the Body
In addition to veins in the legs needing nutritional support, blood vessels of other areas of the body require adequate nutrition to function optimally. This includes the veins of the rectum and anus, which require extra flexibility and strength in order to be able to withstand and adapt to the large fluctuations in pressures they experience during normal bowel movements. If their walls become weakened due to lack of nutrition, they can collapse and stretch. Obviously, antioxidant support for these overworked blood vessels should be expected to help them maintain structural integrity and avoid failure. Fortunately, dietary supplementation with 450 mg of diosmin and 50 mg of hesperidin twice a day has been shown to dramatically support the blood vessels of these areas as well.

One More Thing
Help your heart in its strenuous work by doing some standing and stretching exercises several times a day, drinking copious amounts of water, and avoiding constrictive clothes, salty foods and excessive alcoholic beverages. A regular routine of cardiovascular exercise would also go a long way in providing added support to the entire cardiovascular system.

Diosmin, Hesperidin & Horse Chestnut

  • Diosmin has been shown in research studies to support venous tone and normal lymphatic drainage.*
  • Both Hesperidin and Diosmin may modulate the level and activity of certain immune factors, thus supporting the normal healthy function of blood vessels.*
  • Diosmin (in the proper concentration) has been shown to promote efficient circulatory and vascular function.*
  • A combination of Hesperidin and Diosmin has been shown in clinical studies to support healthy venous tone and normal vessel elasticity, thereby supporting healthy circulation.*
  • Horse Chestnut Seed extract has been shown to exert significant antioxidant effects on vascular tissue, allowing for enhancement of normal circulatory function and the support of healthy vessel tone.*
  • Studies point to the potential ability of horse chestnut seed extract to modulate the effects of enzymes in the circulatory system to promote normal, healthy vascular function.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Eye Health – Seeing is Believing

References:
1. Ottillinger B, Greeske K. Rational therapy of chronic venous insufficiency—chances and limits of the therapeutic use of horse-chestnut seeds extract. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2001;1:5. doi:10.1186/1471-2261-1-5 (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471- 2261/1/5).
2. Sato I, Kofujita H, Suzuki T, Kobayashi H, Tsuda S. Antiinflammatory effect of Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata) seeds. J Vet Med Sci 2006;68:487-489.
3. Pittler MH, Ernst E. Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006;(1):CD003230.
4. Ramelet AA. Daflon 500 mg: Symptoms and edema. Clinical update. Angiology 2005;56 (Suppl.):S25-S32.
5. Smith PC. Daflon 500 mg and venous leg ulcer: New results from a meta-analysis. Angiology 2005;56 (Suppl.):S33-S39.

Blood Sugar – Healthy Support for Optimal Levels

Published on December 20, 2011 in blood sugar levels and healthy aging spotlight. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Blood Sugar – Healthy Support for Optimal Levels

As the development and progression of unhealthy blood glucose metabolism can often take years, it is important to establish and inculcate practices early on which can support healthy blood sugar metabolism.

Powerful Practices to Promote a Healthy Relationship between You and Sugar

You can take charge of your body’s struggle to control glucose. Implementing these powerful practices can promote healthy blood sugar metabolism as a part of your diet.

Eat Less Sugar and Eat It More Slowly

The “sugar load” you place on your body directly reflects how much sugar and starch you eat – the more glucose in any form that you eat or drink, digest, absorb and send into your blood, the more you need to work to get the glucose into your cells. Thus, eating less simple carbohydrates and processed foods, while eating more complex carbohydrates and fiber-rich foods, can lead to decreased absorption of sugar from meals and better overall blood sugar regulation. Why make your blood sugar-regulation system work any harder than is necessary?

Establish and Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

As is confirmed by recently published research body fat interferes with insulin’s ability to stimulate your muscle cells to remove glucose from your blood.1 The more fat you’re carrying, the less able you are to maintain healthy blood glucose regulation. Period. No more discussion. No excuses. Maintaining a healthy body weight through diet and exercise facilitates proper sugar utilization. Get your weight right and help keep your blood glucose under control. It’s that simple.

DASH to Glucose Health

Lifestyle changes that incorporate a combination of weight loss, reduced sodium intake, increased physical activity, moderation of alcohol intake and a diet high in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products (low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol contents; high in magnesium, calcium and protein contents) – the “DASH” Lifestyle – dramatically improve insulin sensitivity in older adults who are not yet hyperglycemic. Even simply increasing the number of servings of fruits and vegetables consumed daily to 5 (still below the recommended 7 to 9 servings) has been shown to provide powerful protection to the blood glucose regulatory system. So has cutting back to only one serving of red meat daily. Of course, so has consuming the recommended amount of dietary fiber which, according to a recent study, can improve insulin sensitivity by about 10% and contribute to sustained maintenance of healthy blood glucose control into the future.2 The merits of this lifestyle approach have been reinforced by the findings in a study published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition – limiting yourself to only one serving of French fries a week significantly enhances chances of having healthy blood glucose control.3

Add the Correct Mix of Minerals

The US Food and Drug Administration approved a Qualified Health Claim for chromium – they agreed that daily dietary supplementation with chromium picolinate (with more than 50 mcg of chromium) can improve insulin sensitivity and restore and maintain healthy blood glucose regulation and homeostasis.4 The US Food and Drug Administration also has determined that daily chromium picolinate may reduce the risk of developing adult onset (“type 2”) diabetes later in life.4 The results of a human clinical trial published recently in Fertility and Sterility confirm that dietary supplementation with chromium picolinate (1000 mcg of chromium daily) dramatically supports the maintenance of healthy blood glucose regulation and protects it from destabilizing influences.5

Adequate intake of the important mineral magnesium is required for maintenance of stable insulin sensitivity. In individuals with normal fasting blood glucose and insulin concentrations, fasting plasma insulin concentration goes down as dietary magnesium intake goes up – a principle that was confirmed again in the results of a study published recently in Diabetes Care.6 In other words, as magnesium intake increases, less insulin is needed to help muscle cells obtain glucose from the blood. The longer you can maintain a high degree of insulin efficiency, the longer you maintain adequate blood glucose regulation capacity. As shown in a 6-year study of 39,345 women, a 12-year study of 42,872 men and an 18-year study of 85,060 women – adults who routinely consume at least 300 mg of magnesium daily have healthier glucose metabolism over the years and are more likely to maintain health with age.

The little-known trace mineral, vanadium, also plays important roles in promoting healthy blood sugar control. Vanadium may also protect other tissues against the potential consequences of chronically dysregulated blood sugar. In a study of rat eyes published recently in the Journal of Biosciences, vanadium protected the lens from the destructive effects of overexposure to glucose.7 In live rats, vanadium supplementation has prevented disruptions in glucose regulation caused by a diabetes-inducing drug. While these studies were in diseased animals, vanadium may also be of utility in healthy humans. As an example, supplementation with 150 mg of vanadium (as vanadyl sulfate) daily has been shown to increase the ability to move glucose from the blood into muscle cells – promoting the sustained normalization of blood glucose regulation in human subjects.

It seems that minerals function in synergy with one another – vanadium contributes to blood glucose regulation by facilitating the regulatory actions of magnesium, while magnesium enables chromium to increase the insulin sensitivity of muscle cells.

A Note of Caution – Never become confused by thinking that dietary ingredients such as chromium, magnesium or vanadium, effective components of a comprehensive healthy blood glucose maintenance program, can substitute for hypoglycemic drugs if your blood glucose already is out of control. As shown by the results of a human clinical trial published recently in Diabetes Care, maintaining healthy blood glucose regulation is not the same as restoring regulation by the treatment of an existing disease.8 Thus, take your minerals to help keep you healthy before your sugar levels are to the point where they may not do much good.

Sprinkle on the Cinnamon

Cinnamon can facilitate the normal action of insulin. In men and women, 1 to 6 g of cinnamon daily maintained normal blood sugar levels in a study that reinforced the expectation that cinnamon consumption can contribute to the maintenance of healthy blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity. However, the results of a human clinical trial published recently in the Journal of Nutrition suggest that small amounts of cinnamon (less than 3 g daily) may not contribute to the maintenance of healthy sugar metabolism.9 It appears that the benefits of cinnamon adhere to the time-honored culinary principle that too little spice is without effect. However, a small study conducted using a particular water-soluble cinnamon extract showed significant benefits on blood sugar levels and body composition. The results of the study pointed out that individuals supplemented with 500 mg per day of the extract had healthier fasting blood sugar levels and a statistically significant decrease in body fat than individuals in the placebo group when the extract was given as a part of a healthy diet.10

Dark Chocolate in Moderation

How can something that tastes so good be so healthy? According to the results of a study published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, faithful daily consumption of 4 ounces of dark chocolate (containing about 500 mg of quercetin and mixed catechins) helped maintain normal sensitivity to insulin, contributing to healthy blood sugar control.11 One caution – this much dark chocolate will add about 500 calories to your daily caloric intake. Remember to adjust your dietary intake of calories – and exercise more – instead of just adding the chocolate!

Herbal Support for Healthy Blood Sugar

Extracts of the leaves of the herb Gymnema sylvestre contain phytonutrients that promote and sustain healthy blood sugar concentrations. Gymnema is an herb that has been used traditionally in the Ayurvedic herbal system to support normal blood sugar levels and has been researched in animals and humans.12 This herb acts in part by slowing the rate of absorption of the sugar in foods and beverages. However, because this herbal extract also may act in part by stimulating some insulin secretion by the pancreas and by itself could contribute to hyperinsulinemia, it should not be consumed alone but only in combination with the other dietary ingredients that increase the efficiency of insulin action in muscle and stimulate glucose entry into muscle cells.

Fenugreek seeds contain 4-hydroxyisoleucine, an amino acidlike phytonutrient that increases muscle cell sensitivity to insulin and facilitates the maintenance of long-term glucose homeostasis. Findings published recently in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry confirmed the results of a number of previous studies by showing that Fenugreek seed powder promotes sustained normalization of blood glucose regulation.13 Similarly, the daily consumption of several grams of powdered Fenugreek seeds has been found to contribute to the stabilization and maintenance of healthy fasting plasma glucose concentrations and oral glucose tolerance (ability to move glucose from the blood into muscle cells) in men and women. In addition, a study of rat eyes published recently in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry found that Fenugreek seed powder protected the lens and retina from the destructive effects of overexposure to glucose.14 These reports demonstrate that Fenugreek seed powder promotes 1) normalization of blood glucose regulation, 2) protective glucose homeostasis in the tissues most susceptible to permanent hyperglycemic damage and 3) stabilization and maintenance of healthy oral glucose tolerance. Thus adding herbs like Gymnema sylvestre as a dietary supplement, and incorporating spices like Fenugreek and others to your diet, can lead to long-term healthy regulation of blood sugar metabolism.

Phytonutrients for Healthy Blood Sugar Maintenance

The findings of two recently published studies indicate that the phytonutrients (not the caffeine) in both regular and “decaf” coffees are beneficial in the maintenance of healthy blood glucose regulation.15,16 In fact, the more coffee these 117,071 American women drank on a regular basis, day in, day out, year after year, the better their regulation of blood glucose metabolism. Coffee contains chlorogenic acid and trigonelline, its two major phytonutrient components. A recent study found that acute intake of chlorogenic acid and trigonelline in 15 men was found to significantly reduce blood sugar levels as assessed by performance of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) compared to placebo.17

Maintaining blood sugar levels in an ideal range is an important cornerstone for health and wellness. Healthy blood sugar regulation can be achieved by implementing several dietary measures, incorporating exercise and other healthy lifestyle practices into your daily routine, and by adding health-promoting nutritional supplements to your daily regimen.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Healthy Circulation: Go with the Flow

References:
1. Virtanen KA, Iozzo P, Hallsten K, Huupponen R, Parkkola R, Janatuinen T, Lonnqvist F, Viljanen T, Ronnemaa T, Lonnroth P, Knuuti J, Ferrannini E, Nuutila P. Increased fat mass compensates for insulin resistance in abdominal obesity and type 2 diabetes: A positron-emitting tomography study. Diabetes 2005;54:2720-2726.
2. Weickert MO, Mohlig M, Schofl C, Arafat AM, Otto B, Viehoff H, Koebnick C, Kohl A, Spranger J, Pfeiffer AF. Cereal fiber improves whole-body insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese women. Diabetes Care 2006;29:775-780.
3. Halton TL, Willett WC, Liu S, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Hu FB. Potato and French fry consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;83:284-290.
4. Schneeman BO. Qualified health claims: Letter of enforcement discretion — Chromium picolinate and insulin resistance (Docket No. 2004Q-0144) (letter). Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC, August 25, 2005.
5. Lydic ML, McNurlan M, Bembo S, Mitchell L, Komaroff E, Gelato M. Chromium picolinate improves insulin sensitivity in obese subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2006;86:243-246.
6. Huerta MG, Roemmich JN, Kington ML, Bovbjerg VE, Weltman AL, Holmes VF, Patrie JT, Rogol AD, Nadler JL. Magnesium deficiency is associated with insulin resistance in obese children. Diabetes Care 2005;28:1175-1181.
7. Preet A, Gupta BL, Yadava PK, Baquer NZ. Efficacy of lower doses of vanadium in restoring altered glucose metabolism and antioxidant status in diabetic rat lenses. J Biosci 2005;30:221-230.
8. Kleefstra N, Houweling ST, Jansman FG, Groenier KH, Gans RO, Meyboom-de Jong B, Bakker SJ, Bilo HJ. Chromium treatment has no effect in patients with poorly controlled, insulin-treated type 2 diabetes in an obese Western population: A randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2006;29:521-525.
9. Vanschoonbeek K, Thomassen BJ, Senden JM, Wodzig WK, van Loon LJ. Cinnamon supplementation does not improve glycemic control in postmenopausal type 2 diabetes patients. J Nutr 2006;136:977- 980.
10. Ziegenfuss TN, Hofheins JE, Mendel RW, Landis J, Anderson RA. Effects of a water-soluble cinnamon extract on body composition and features of the metabolic syndrome in pre-diabetic men and women. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2006;3:45-53.
11. Grassi D, Necozione S, Lippi C, Croce G, Valeri L, Pasqualetti P, Desideri G, Blumberg JB, Ferri C. Cocoa reduces blood pressure and insulin resistance and improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypertensives. Hypertension 2005;46:398-405.
12. Gad MZ, El-Sawalhi MM, Ismail MF, El-Tanbouly ND. Biochemical study of the anti-diabetic action of the Egyptian plants Fenugreek and Balanites. Mol Cell Biochem 2006;281:173-183.
13. Anonymous. Gymnema sylvestre. Altern Med Rev 1999 Feb;4(1):46-7.
14. Preet A, Siddiqui MR, Taha A, Badhai J, Hussain ME, Yadava PK, Baquer NZ. Long-term effect of Trigonella foenum graecum and its combination with sodium orthovanadate in preventing histopathological and biochemical abnormalities in diabetic rat ocular tissues. Mol Cell Biochem 2006; May 23. doi: 10.1007/s11010- 006-9156-0.
15. van Dam RM, Willett WC, Manson JE, Hu FB. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort study in younger and middle-aged U.S. women. Diabetes Care 2006;29:398-403.
16. Pereira MA, Parker ED, Folsom AR. Coffee consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med 2006;166:1311-1316.
17. van Dijk AE, Olthof MR, Meeuse JC, Seebus E, Heine RJ, van Dam RM. Acute effects of decaffeinated coffee and the major coffee components chlorogenic acid and trigonelline on glucose tolerance. Diabetes Care 2009;32(6):1023-5.

Brain Health: Brain Inflammation

Published on December 19, 2011 in brain health and healthy aging spotlight. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Brain Health: Brain Inflammation

The human brain seems to develop a state of chronic low-grade inflammation after a number of decades of life.34 The ravages of free radical accumulation become detectible with increasing age. In this state, the chemical messages being exchanged by the activated immune system of the brain have the side-effect of occasionally interfering with neuronal function.35 Therefore, the dietary agents that help modulate free radical production, contained within fruits and vegetables, and fish, in particular, may be useful in helping your brain ward off some of the influences that could be contributing to its accelerated aging. Adding several brain health boosters to your daily regimen, in the form of dietary supplements, can provide further support in your quest to protect the fundamental functions of the brain throughout life.

Brain Health Boosters

  • B-Vitamins
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Iron
  • N-Acetylcysteine
  • Fish Oils
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Ginkgo biloba leaf extract
  • Glycerophosphocholine (GPC)
  • Choline
  • Vinpocetine
  • Acetyl-L-Carnitine
  • Vitamin E
  • Selenium
  • Vitamin C
  • Quercetin
  • Resveratrol
  • Pomegranate Juice
  • Carotenoids
  • Pycnogenol
  • Fruits and Vegetables

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Blood Sugar – Healthy Support for Optimal Levels

References:
34. Chang RC, Chen W, Hudson P, Wilson B, Han DS, Hong JS. Neurons reduce glial responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and prevent injury of microglial cells from over-activation by LPS. J eurochem 2001;76:1042-1049.
35. Stella N, Estelles A, Siciliano J, Tence M, Desagher S, Piomelli D, Glowinski J, Premont J. Interleukin-1 enhances the ATP-evoked release of arachidonic acid from mouse astrocytes. J Neurosci 1997;17:2939-2946.

Brain Health: Neuroprotection

Published on December 16, 2011 in brain health and healthy aging spotlight. 0 Comments

This is part of our ongoing The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging spotlight. Each week, we will be posting some of the great information that’s packed into our book, The Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging.

Today’s topic:
Brain Health: Neuroprotection

Neuroprotection is a term that describes mechanisms to protect the brain from oxidative damage.23 The brain is an organ that is especially sensitive to oxidative stress, and many of the biochemical and metabolic changes that accumulate with advancing age act to increase the oxidative stress on the human brain. Increased oxidative stress has a harmful impact on cognitive functioning and, as discussed above, is a major cause of brain aging.

The need for additional neuroprotection will accompany any situation in which brain metabolism is increased – such as during learning, thinking or any of the other cognitive processes. There is evidence suggesting that inadequate neuroprotection is part of the set of factors that can impair learning, memory, attention and concentration. On the other hand, increasing neuroprotective capacity may be able to prevent these impairments and could even foster the repair of oxidative damage in the brain.

Vinpocetine
Vinpocetine is a substance that protects neurons from oxidative damage. In addition, vinpocetine acts as a cerebral vasodilator that enhances circulation to the brain. Increased oxygen and nutrient supply to the brain can enhance cognitive functioning ability; in several experiments, 10 mg of vinpocetine has increased the ability to distinguish discrete sensory data, reduced reaction time and enhanced short-term memory functions (retention and recall).24,25 Furthermore, vinpocetine has been found to have free radical scavenging effects at concentrations that are achievable in humans, with dose-dependent antioxidant activity capable of protecting the integrity of brain tissues.26 The dual action of vinpocetine to enhance brain oxygenation and support antioxidant protection of brain structures makes vinpocetine a unique nutrient for cognitive support.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine is a modified version of L-carnitine that is transported into the brain where it acts as a strong antioxidant. This property was demonstrated in research published recently in Neuropharmacology.27 In that experiment, nerve cells became more resistant to oxidative attack when acetyl-L-carnitine was available to them.

The neuroprotective properties of acetyl-L-carnitine are associated with beneficial effects on cognitive functioning. As shown in a “gold standard” randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, elderly men and women with very mild age-related cognitive decline who supplemented their diets with 2000 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine enjoyed significant improvements in short-term memory, long-term memory, attention span and verbal fluency.28,29 A meta-analysis including 21 clinical trials using acetyl-L-carnitine was published in 2003. The results showed that the nutrient had significant positive benefits when compared to placebo treatment for supporting cognitive ability in humans.30

Vitamin E
Because it acts within cell membranes, vitamin E has the potential to play a major neuroprotective role in the human brain. Scientists have reported that the ability of elderly men and women to perform on tests of cognitive functioning was greatest in those with the highest daily consumption of vitamin E.31 The recently-published results of a detailed analysis of published studies show that daily dietary supplementation with 200 IU to 400 IU of vitamin E reduce the risk of certain neurological concerns characterized by oxidation of neuronal membrane lipids.32 Given its antioxidant prowess, vitamin E plays an essential role in supporting brain function.

Selenium
The water-soluble counterpart to vitamin E, selenium is a required activating agent for a set of antioxidant enzymes that contribute to the neuroprotection of the human brain.33 The activity of these powerful quenchers of free electrons depends on the amount of selenium that is available as a cofactor through the diet and through dietary supplements.

Next Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Aging topic:
Brain Inflammation

References:
23. Joseph JA, Shukitt-Hale B, Casadesus G. Reversing the deleterious effects of aging on neuronal communication and behavior: Beneficial properties of fruit polyphenolic compounds. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81(Suppl.):313S-316S.
24. Coleston DM, Hindmarch I. Possible memory-enhancing properties of vinpocetine. Drug Develop Res 1988;14:191-193.
25. Subhan Z, Hindmarch I. Psychopharmacological effects of vinpocetine in normal healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1985;28:567-571.
26. Horvath B, Marton Z, Halmosi R, Alexy T, Szapary L, Vekasi J, Biro Z, Habon T, Kesmarky G, Toth K. In vitro antioxidant properties of pentoxifylline, piracetam, and vinpocetine. Clin Neuropharmacol 2002;25(1):37-42.
27. Picconi B, Barone I, Pisani A, Nicolai R, Benatti P, Bernardi G, Calvani M, Calabresi P. Acetyl-L-carnitine protects striatal neurons against in vitro ischemia: The role of endogenous acetylcholine. Neuropharmacology 2006;50:917-923.
28. Passeri M, Iannuccelli M, Ciotti G, Bonati PA, Nolfe G, Cucinotta D. Mental impairment in aging: Selection of patients, methods of evaluation and therapeutic possibilities of acetyl-L-carnitine. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1988;8:367-376.
29. Passeri M, Cucinotta D, Bonati PA, Iannuccelli M, Parnetti L, Senin U. Acetyl-L-carnitine in the treatment of mildly demented elderly patients. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1990;10:75-79.
30. Montgomery SA, Thal LJ, Amrein R. Meta-analysis of double blind randomized controlled clinical trials of acetyl-L-carnitine versus placebo in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2003;18(2):61-71.
31. Ortega RM, Requejo AM, Lopez-Sobaler AM, Andres P, Navia B, Perea JM, Robles F. Cognitive function in elderly people is influenced by vitamin E status. J Nutr 2002;132:2065-2068.
32. Etminan M, Gill SS, Samii A. Intake of vitamin E, vitamin C, and carotenoids and the risk of Parkinson’s disease: A meta-analysis. Lancet Neurol 2005;4:362-365.
33. Schweizer U, Brauer AU, Kohrle J, Nitsch R, Savaskan NE. Selenium and brain function: A poorly recognized liaison. Brain Res Rev 2004;45:164-178.

Zestrogen, New from Purity Products

Published on December 9, 2011 in product news. 0 Comments

Women today implement many strategies for dealing with menopause, including healthy eating, regular exercise, vitamin & mineral supplements, and relaxation techniques. Purity Products introduces Zestrogen™, an important new tool in naturally supporting the female body’s normal transition during menopause. The Zestrogen™ formulation features select vitamins and minerals in combination with EstroG-100™, a propriety science-based blend of herbs that can safely provide relief for some of the mild symptoms associated with menopause.

Find out more about Zestrogen™ here:
http://www.purityproducts.com/purityEcommerce/control/productDetail?productId=zestrogen&source=blog