A study from Shantou, China has looked at the effects of resveratrol on cardiomyocytes; in particular, whether resveratrol has any effects on apoptosis of these cells as a result of ischemia/hypoxia. Turns out it did: resveratrol significantly attenuated cell death, indicating that resveratrol might be useful in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Resveratrol protects cardiomyocytes from [...]
According to this recent study, levels of co-enzyme Q10 decline by about 40% in the human retina with age. Co-enyzme Q10 is a component of the electron transport chain and participates in aerobic cellular respiration, generating energy in the form of ATP. Ninety-five percent of the human body’s energy is generated this way, so it [...]
A Malaysian study has looked at the effects of a ginger extract on levels of NF-kappa-beta and TNF-alpha, two nasties associated with cancer and inflammation, and found that it reduces the levels of these in rats with liver cancer.
This is good news for lovers of ginger, such as myself. Cheers!
Ginger extract (Zingiber officinale) has anti-cancer [...]
This study presents evidence that Epigallo-catechin gallate (EGCG), one of the major therapeutic components of green tea, significantly and markedly extends the lifespans of C. Elegans worms under conditions of heat or oxidative stress. It did not extend their lifespans under normal conditions. Once again, it starts to seem that preventing oxidative stress is good [...]
Type-2 diabetics experience higher levels of oxidative stress, and a marker of this is the amount of oxidized Low Density Lipoproteins (LDLs). Here, it was found that L-carnitine supplementation significantly reduced the amount of oxidized LDL.
L-Carnitine supplementation reduces oxidized LDL cholesterol in patients with diabetes.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Dec 3;?PMID: 19056606
Malaguarnera M, Vacante M, [...]
This study, which builds on previous research that esophageal cancer is caused in part by oxidative stress following gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn), shows that supplementation with vitamin E and N-acetyl cysteine goes some way to protect against this.
Effect of alpha-tocopherol, N-acetylcysteine and omeprazole on esophageal adenocarcinoma formation in a rat surgical model.
Int J Cancer. 2008 Oct [...]
This study in the Journal of Pineal Research shows that melatonin has a variety of interesting and potentially beneficial effects regarding the modulation of mitochondrial metabolism.
Melatonin protects the mitochondria from oxidative damage reducing oxygen consumption, membrane potential, and superoxide anion production.
J Pineal Res. 2008 Nov 19; PMID: 19054298
Lopez A, Garcia JA, Escames G, Venegas C, [...]
An interesting idea was presented recently in Medical Hypotheses, postulating that common obesity (i.e., fatness that does not have an underlying medical cause) is due to a lack of vitamin D.
Most of us experience weight gain over winter, and I had always assumed that it was due to the changes in lifestyle that the winter [...]
Alpha-lipoic-acid has been shown to facilitate the healing of gastric ulcers in rats.
I will be reporting on any little bit of good that can be derived from the supplements life-extensionists tend to take; so, to that end, I present the following abstract:
Alpha-Lipoic Acid Improves Acetic Acid-Induced Gastric Ulcer Healing in Rats:
To evaluate the role of [...]
Researchers at the Institute of Healthy Ageing at UCL (University College London) stated yesterday that the free-radical theory of aging is ‘wrong’.
As much as this study disappoints me, it would be disingenuous for me to omit it from this blog, and as much as one has to sigh at the possibility of countless hours of [...]