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Anti-ageing, any real evidence?
By Dr. Keith Chung
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Anti-ageing, any real evidence?
Here are some interesting facts to keep you up-to-date on some
anti-ageing agents:
DHEA: (Dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid secreted by the
adrenal cortex. This hormone is the precursor for testosterone,
progesterone and estrogen. This hormone is found to decline with
age so replacing this hormone could be expected to slow
age-related changes. DHEA has also been shown to be directly
related to mortality with an inverse relationship existing
between the levels of DHEA and mortality from heart disease as
well as other causes1. Calorie deprivation (known to prolong
ageing, see below) is also known to inhibit the decline of DHEA.
Another important hormone with antiageing properties include HGH
(human growth hormone). Effective HGH hormone sprays are
available.
Antioxidants: The theory is that in ageing unrepaired oxidative
damage accumulate putting the organism under increased stress.
DNA damage is also reported to be associated with oxidative
stress. Antioxidants protect against cellular damage by mopping
up the reactive oxygen species that cause damage. A recent
study2 of elderly subjects found that DNA damage occurred in 45
% of subjects, with 62% having low total antioxidant levels.
Antioxidants include vitamins C, A, E, and the mineral selenium.
Although these agents are effective antioxidants, their
beneficial effects in slowing ageing still remains largely
unproven. There is considered stronger evidence for the roles of
these antioxidants in degenerative disease such as
atherosclerosis. The area of antioxidants in ageing is still an
active area of research interest. Tip: not many people know, but
there is an effective and convenient test for checking your
Antioxidant status to see if you are adequately protected
against the damaging effects of free radicals. The test involves
measurement of lipid peroxides in urine. Lipid peroxides
represent damage caused to fats by free radicals and provide a
useful barometer of your antioxidant status.
Peptides: Carnosine: (a peptide) is an antioxidant and free
radical scavenger. Carnosine has been found to extend the life
of human skin cells grown in culture. Long lived cells contain
high levels of carnosine. The anti-ageing properties has been
more recently linked, not so much with its antioxidant
properties, but with its ability to protect against undesirable
protein glycation and cross linking to normal macromolecules3.
Herbs: Garlic: a study4 in 1994 found garlic enhanced the long
term growth ability of human skin cells to survive in culture.
The researchers also found that garlic inhibited the growth of
cancer cells in culture, providing the first apparent evidence
of both anti-ageing and anti- cancer effects of garlic.
Calorie Restriction: this has long been known to result in the
slowing or retardation of the ageing process. It has been
confirmed in a number of studies with animals which have been
shown to live longer when their dietary intakes were restricted.
Calorie restriction without malnutrition is the only known
manipulation which has been convincingly demonstrated to retard
ageing in mammals.
Dr. Keith Chung,PhD www.balanceyournutrition.com
Reference list: 1. J Endocrinol 1999 Oct;163(1):1-5 2. Mech
Ageing Dev 2001 Jun;122(8):835-47 3. Cell Mol Life Sci 2000
May;57(5):747-53 4. J Ethnopharmacol 1994 Jul 8;4(2):125-33.
About the author:
Founder, BalanceYourNutrition.com Author of several scientific
articles in leading science journals. Editor of
BalanceYourNutrition Newsletter.
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