IN THIS ISSUE, AUGUST 31 2001:
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LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE: Yet another role for aspirin
PROTOCOL: Neuropathy
LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE AUGUST 2001: AGE breakers by Carmina Borek PhD
TUNE INTO THE LIFE EXTENSION RADIO SHOW EACH SATURDAY: This week's topic -
diabetes
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE
Yet another role for aspirin
The inexpensive and widely available over the counter salicylates such as
aspirin have demonstrated a number of benefits over the last couple decades,
beyond their well known functions as fever and pain reliever. Heart
disease, thrombotic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and some types of
cancer all have been found to be aided in their prevention by aspirin.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School's Joslin Diabetes Center and the
University of California, San Diego have uncovered yet another ability of
this wonder-drug, that of treating type-2 diabetes.
Research published in the August 31 2001 issue of the journal Science
studied salicylates' effects on genetically obese mice and rats who are
prone to developing diabetes. They found that the drug influenced a pathway
of cells known as the IKK-beta pathway that inhibits the effect of insulin.
Inhibiting IKK-beta threfore makes the body's own insulin more effective.
Salicylates were able to reverse the elevation in blood sugar, insulin and
fat levels in the mice and rats in this study. Diabetes is believed to
occur when the body produces inadequate amounts of insulin, yet frequently
insulin levels are higher than normal in diabetics because the cells become
resistant to insulin, the hormone that converts glucose into energy.
Next, the researchers bred mice to have lower levels of the IKK-beta
molecule, thought to be aspirin's target, and found that they were prevented
from developing obesity and insulin resistance when fed a high fat diet that
would normally induce this phenomenon. The authors state, "These findings
implicate an inflammatory process in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance
in obesity and type 2 diabetes and identify the IKKIB pathway as a target
for insulin sensitization."
It has long been known that aspirin could lower blood sugar, but the six to
eight gram daily doses necessary to accomplish this can have side effects.
Harvard medical School associate professor of medicine and lead study
author, Steve Shoelson, MD predicted, "If a drug could be developed with
this capacity to lower blood sugar, but without high-dose aspirin's side
effects,we could potentially have a potent new treatment for type 2
diabetes."
PROTOCOL
Neuropathy
The majority of diabetics will eventually develop some degree of neuropathy.
Conventional medicine offers little in the prevention or treatment of
diabetic neuropathy, yet there is a great deal of published information
showing that the proper use of dietary supplements can be of significant
benefit.
Diabetes is associated with a fatty acid imbalance. In experimental models,
essential fatty acid desaturation contributes to reductions in peripheral
nerve conduction velocity and blood flow. This fatty acid imbalance may be
corrected by dietary supplements that contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA),
such as borage oil. In animal studies, significant improvements in blood
flow and nerve-conduction velocity were observed in response to GLA
supplementation.
Nerve conduction and perfusion deficits in diabetic rats have been corrected
by a combination of antioxidant and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) supplements.
A deficit in sciatic nutritive endoneural blood flow was corrected by 34.8%
with GLA therapy, and by 24.8% with free radical scavenger therapy. When
both treatments were combined, a flow improvement of 72.5% was observed.
This study showed a synergistic effect of antioxidant and omega-6 essential
fatty acid (GLA) when used in combination against diabetic neuropathy.
Deficient and toxic neuropathies can be alleviated by improving lifestyle
and dietary factors. The following combinations of nutritional supplements
might be particularly effective:
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), fish oil concentrate, and ascorbyl palmitate
offer a potential synergistic approach to correcting a fatty acid imbalance
by enhancing blood flow to the nerves, and protecting against free radicals.
A suggested regimen would be to take 3 capsules of Mega GLA (gamma-linolenic
acid supplement), along with 3 capsules of Mega EPA (fish oil concentrate),
and 500 mg of ascorbyl palmitate twice a day. If symptoms alleviate or
disappear, the dose of GLA and EPA could be reduced to 2 capsules twice a
day.
Vitamin B12 in the form of methylcobalamin in the dose of 5 to 40 mg a day,
taken in lozenge form under the tongue, along with 2000 to 5000 mcg of folic
acid has been shown to correct many neurological diseases, including
neuropathy.
Protect against free radicals and enhance neuronal energy metabolism by
taking 250 mg of alpha-lipoic acid twice a day, 1000 mg of
acetyl-L-carnitine twice a day, 600 mg of NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) twice a
day, and 3000 mg of vitamin C twice a day.
Taking a broad-spectrum multinutrient formula can help suppress free radical
injury to the nerves, while supplying supplemental amounts of folic acid and
vitamin B12. Life Extension Mix (3 tablets 3 times a day) is a 67 ingredient
multivitamin, mineral, herbal, and amino acid supplement that provides a
concentrated dose of nutrients. Life Extension Mix also has a high level of
pantothenic acid, which has a synergistic benefit when used with
alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) common in diabetic protocols.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151066363/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
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LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE AUGUST 2001
AGE breakers by Carmina Borek PhD
The rate of advanced glycation endproducts' (AGEs)accumulation and the
degree of stiffness they produce are proportional to blood glucose levels
and the length of time these levels persist. Evidence that advanced
glycation endproducts are important contributors to a loss of elasticity is
provided by observations that high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) in young
diabetic rats accelerates the stiffening of the heart muscle (myocardium)
and that chemicals that inhibit the formation of advanced glycation
endproducts prevent the stiffening of the tissues. Additional supporting
evidence comes from human observations. People with diabetes, whose high
blood glucose is not readily restored to normal, show substantially larger
amounts of advanced glycation endproducts in their tissues. They also show
increased stiffness, compared to age matched nondiabetic individuals.
Age-related cardiovascular disorders that are linked to advanced glycation
endproducts-atherosclerosis, hypertension, stroke and heart failure-are
frequent complications in diabetes. In fact it has been suggested that
diabetes is an accelerated form of aging. Conversely, it is speculated that
increased longevity associated with reduced caloric intake may be due to
lower amounts of advanced glycation endproducts formed in the body.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151066367/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
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TUNE INTO THE LIFE EXTENSION RADIO SHOW EACH SATURDAY
Don't miss the Life Extension hour on WJNA 1040 AM in South Florida. Listen
to the live webcast Saturdays from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm eastern time by
going to http://www.lef.org/radio/ This Saturday's topic is diabetes. Join
Dr Ron Keys, Life Extension Advisor Elizabeth Weinstock and special guest
Michelle Morrow MD, and call in your questions. Previous shows are archived
at
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151066368/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Chat live with Dr Andrew Baer Wednesday, September 5, at 7:00 pm eastern
time and 7:00 pm pacific time.
http://www.lef.org/chat/
Visit our website at www.lef.org and take part in this week's poll. This
week we want to know: how young are you? (Don't worry, participants in our
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If you have questions or comments concerning this issue or past issues of
Life Extension Update, send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or call 1 800 841
LIFE extension 7716.
For longer life,
Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
Life Extension Foundation
www.lef.org
1 800 841 LIFE
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