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LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE NOVEMBER 3 2000
IN THIS ISSUE NOVEMBER 3 2000, LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE: Heart
disease marker discovered; WHAT'S HOT: Lipoprotein-associated
phospholipase A2 strong predictor of heart disease; PROTOCOL: Fibrinogen
and cardiovascular disease; FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK: Mega-EPA,
Super Ginkgo Extract; LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE November 2000 issue now
online!
Heart disease marker discovered
It is widely believed that cardiovascular disease is caused by
controllable lifestyle factors: high fat, high cholesterol diets, lack of
methylation enhancing nutrients, obesity, smoking and a sedentary
lifestyle. High cholesterol and a family history of heart disease are
considered strong risk factors. However, in 48% of all men and 63% of all
women, their first heart attacks come as a surprise, occurring in
nonsmoking, nonobese men and women who do not have these risk factors.
Interleukin Genetics, Inc, has discovered variations in the IL-1 gene
which increase heart disease risk by two to four times in individuals
sixty years of age or younger. The genetic variations cause increased
arterial inflammation, an important factor in the development of the
disease.
Interleukin Genetics conducted a study in which 500 Mayo Clinic patients
were evaluated for traditional coronary artery disease risk factors such
as gender, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, family history, age
and diabetes, as well as variants in the IL-1 gene. Those with the
variant who were under sixty had a 3.9 higher risk of coronary artery
disease than those without it. Another study, the National Institutes of
Health study of Atherosclerosis Risk in the Community, monitored 1900
individuals between the ages of 45 and 64 for nine years and found that
those possessing the genetic variant were 2 to 3.3 times as likely to have
thickening of the arterial walls, considered indicative of
atherosclerosis.
Interleukin Genetics' Chief Executive Officer Philip R Reilly, MD, JD,
enthused, "This discovery leads us to an early and very exciting practical
application of the Human Genome Project. The investigation of IL-1
underscores how genetics research is redefining the way we look at heart
disease, and can stimulate the development of therapies that target
markers such as this one . . . The commercial availability of a test to
determine whether a patient possesses the IL-1 genetic risk factors could
be available within a year."
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE Addendum
Last week's Life Extension Update Exclusive reported on melatonin's
sexually stimulatory effect when administered in acute doses to rats. A
few readers were concerned that the chronic dosing mentioned as inhibiting
sexual activity in rats would have the same effect on humans. However,
the study's authors emphasized that the chronic dosing used in the
experiments was in large doses, and that a sexual stimulatory effect has
been reported in humans using small doses of melatonin once per night for
sleep.
WHAT'S HOT
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 strong predictor of heart disease
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is an enzyme that accompanies low
density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol in the blood, and may be
involved in modifying LDL. Also known as platelet-activating factor
acetylhydrolase, the expression of this enzyme is regulated by mediators
of inflammation. While other inflammatory markers are known to be
predictive of coronary events, this ability is modified by other risk
factors.
A study reported in the October 19 issue of the New England Journal of
Medicine utilized stored biological samples from The West of Scotland
Coronary Prevention Study, a trial that evaluated the drug Pravastatin's
preventive ability against coronary events in 6,595 men. Researchers
analyzed the study's baseline samples for lipoprotein-associated
phospholipase A2, as well as other markers of inflammation, such as
C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and white cell count in 580 subjects who
went on to develop a coronary event (defined in this study as a myocardial
infarction, bypass surgery or angioplasty) and matched each of these for
smoking status and age with controls who did not later experience a
coronary event.
The study found that inflammatory markers were predictors of coronary
events but their predictive ability was weakened when other risk factors,
such as body mass index, HDL levels, triglycerides and systolic blood
pressure were taken into consideration. Lipoprotein-associated
phospholipase A2, however was strongly associated with the risk of a
coronary event, a risk that is statistically independent of other factors.
The group that had the highest levels of the enzyme also had double the
risk of a coronary event than those who had the lowest levels.
The researchers proposed that lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is
placed to release products of LDL oxidation into the artery wall. Because
inhibition of the enzyme has been demonstrated to have desirable effects
in vitro, they predict that the enzyme will become a new therapeutic
target.
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PROTOCOL
Fibrinogen and cardiovascular disease
Most heart attacks and strokes are caused by a blood clot that obstructs
the flow of blood to a portion of the heart or the brain. Blood clots that
form inside arteries are the leading causes of death in the Western world.
Blood clots kill almost 700,000 Americans every year. High levels of the
blood-clotting agent fibrinogen predispose a person to coronary and
cerebral artery disease, even when other known risk factors such as
cholesterol are low. The role of fibrinogen in the development of
cardiovascular disease has been confirmed in several well controlled
studies.
In 1996, Life Extension was the first research group to recognize the
importance of fibrinogen as an independent risk indicator for
cardiovascular disease. A new study in the Journal of the American College
of Cardiology (1999, 33:1347-52) validates the LEF position on fibrinogen
as an independent indicator and cause of heart attack, stroke, and
cardiovascular disease risk. This published report examined data on nearly
400 male physicians participating in the Physicians' Health Study. Blood
fibrinogen levels of 199 subjects who experienced heart attacks during the
study period were compared with those of 199 control subjects who did not
suffer heart attacks. The investigators report that patients with heart
attacks had significantly higher fibrinogen levels compared with healthy
controls. In fact, subjects with especially high fibrinogen levels had a
risk of heart attack twice that of men with lower levels of fibrinogen.
These findings remained unchanged regardless of the presence or absence of
other coronary risk factors, including high cholesterol.
The following supplements offer synergistic benefits to assist in the
reduction of fibrinogen levels (over 300 mg/dL) and the risk of
cardiovascular disease:
Aspirin, 81 mg every day, with the heaviest meal of the day.
Vitamin B6, 250 to 500 mg daily.
Vitamin C, 3000 to 5000 mg daily.
Vitamin E, 400 to 800 IU daily.
Folic acid, 800 mcg with every meal. Use a folic acid supplement that also
contains at least 1000 mcg of vitamin B12. Folic acid works
synergistically with vitamin B12 to lower homocysteine levels.
Ginkgo biloba, 120 mg daily.
Green tea, 350 mg a day of green tea, 95% polyphenol extract.
Herbal Cardiovascular Formula (contains bromelain), two capsules, 2 times
a day.
Mega EPA, 6 to 9 grams a day (six to eight Mega EPA capsules).
Niacin, 1500 to 3000 mg a day (if tolerable). Consider flush-free niacin
(inositol hexanicotinate) to avoid a "red face."
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FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK
Mega-EPA Capsules
Mega EPA Capsules are a convenient way to take EPA and DHA in a
concentrated form. EPA and DHA can be helpful against arthritis, reduce
abnormal blood clotting inside blood vessels, reduce triglyceride levels,
and reduce many forms of chronic inflammation. The fatty free acid form of
omega-3 rich fish oils in this product represents a technological
breakthrough in marine lipid research providing for maximum efficient
absorption of EPA and DHA. Each capsule contains EPA (eicosapentaenoic
acid) 400 mg, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 300 mg, vitamin E (natural, mixed
tocopherols) 2 IU, Vitamin C 2 mg.
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Super Ginkgo Extract
European physicians are prescribing ginkgo biloba to slow down and reverse
aging of the brain. A number of well designed studies published in medical
journals have shown that ginkgo can improve mental function in people of
all ages. Some European physicians have stated that ginkgo is more
effective than high doses of Hydergine in treating senile dementia.
Studies have consistently shown ginkgo to be beneficial in treating a
variety of conditions. Ginkgo has a positive effect on circulation, both
cerebral and peripheral, including an ability to reduce abnormalities of
muscle tone, of blood vessels, capillary permeability, abnormal
aggregation of blood platelets, arterial damage caused by atherosclerosis
and tissue damage caused by low blood flow.
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LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE
November 2000 issue now online
Can you trust the government's database? /What's missing from multivitamin
formulas/Barbequer Beware/Over the counter drug as treatment for
Alzheimer's/Soy isoflavones help prevent urological cancer/At his
best!/Evaluating Huperzine, CLA quality and more/November 2000 Medical
Updates/November 2000 abstracts
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Please feel free to contact me at ddye@lifeextension.com if you have any
questions concerning this issue of Life Extension Update or any other life
extension topics. Thank you to all who returned the surveys. This is of
great help in making this YOUR newsletter. Thanks also for all the
positive comments!
For longer life,
Dayna Dye
ddye@lifeextension.com
Editor, Life Extension Update
www.lef.org
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