ANTIAGING PRODUCTS: NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
Nutrition
With the depletion of soils and strong advocacy not
to replenish soils using artificial substances, one
thing is evident; the nutritional value in natural foods
today is not as it what a few generations ago.
Recommended Daily Allowance
RDA or Recommended Daily Allowance is a measure which
is perhaps becoming somewhat outdated in its current
form. Firstly due to its origin, which was largely to
define a measure of a vitamin or mineral representing
the level below which the body would show health or
wellness decline.
Secondly, it does not denote ‘how much is needed
to reach optimal performance’; rather it’s
a measure or dosage to reach average health. As an example,
a diet with a high intake of fruit results in less incidence
of cardiovascular disease, and thus impacts life expectancy.
However, that protective effect of fruit and vegetables
occur at an intake in the range of two or three times
the RDA amount.
The “official” RDA value is determined using
six major criteria:
- amount people consume normally of the nutrient
- amount needed to avoid a particular disease
- the adequacy of the physiological function in relation
to the nutrient intake
- amount of nutrient absorbed
- studies determining the nutrient deficiency characteristics;
and
- results from animal experiments
Today, some scientists have suggested an additional,
perhaps more reliable criterion; that which results
in the longest lifespan. Thus, there is a fundamental
difference between using supplements to prevent disease
and using them to retard aging.
CODEX or RDA
A number of minority European countries have proposed
that Codex Guidelines, established by scientific risk
assessment be used to guide the level of supplements;
rather than the outdated Recommended Daily Allowance.
Many countries such as South America and SE Asia still
require that nutritional supplements do not exceed 100%
of the RDA determined by the FAQ
Which Supplements?
If we can agree that there is a benefit to nutritional
supplementation, deciding which supplements to take
can be even more difficult. This is exasperated by the
controversy between the business side of selling supplements
and scientifically backed health benefits.
Much research has proved that regular supplementation
can prevent and increase resistance to a variety of
diseases associated with old age and early mortality.
However, many modern medical practitioners tend to over-recommend
the use of certain drugs and supplements
which have not stood the test of time.
Our challenge, is therefore to decide what risk we
are willing to take; not take sufficient quantity and
expose ourselves further to the perils of aging breakdown,
or take sufficient to ward of the aging evil, yet risk
any as yet unknown or unproven side effects.
There are several classes of supplements:
Antioxidants
Antioxidants
are by far the most potent anti-aging agents as free
radical scavengers. It is proven that taking antioxidants
result in longer life and lower incidence of disease
by decreasing disease susceptibility and are a must
in any anti-aging diet. Whether supplementation with
antioxidants alone retards aging, is yet unproven. The
three antioxidants which are best known for their activity
are:
Vitamins
E - the most significant fat-soluble, chain-breaking
antioxidant in human blood. Sufficient Vitamin E increases
immune response and resistance to infection. It also
exerts cancer-inhibiting properties and protects from
toxic chemical agents (mercury, lead, ozone). Supplement
with 300 IU.
Vitamin
C
- the primary water-soluble antioxidant obtained
from food and has proven beneficial in the prevention
of cardiovascular disease and immune enhancement. Vitamin
C is also essential for optimal brain metabolism, carnitine
synthesis and manufacturing connective tissue. As an
effective scavenger of free radicals, it also and protects
against LDL cholesterol. In some cases it may act as
a pro-oxidant, a function counteracted by Vitamin E,
hence it is essential that these vitamins be supplemented
together. The most effective form is Ester-C, with 500
mg taken between meals.
Alpha Lipoic Acid [ALA]
- is both water and fat soluble and plays a
role in glucose metabolism. It lowers oxidative stress
thus reversing age-related decline in mitochondrial
functions. Current recommendation is to take 120 mg
daily.
Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are nonnutrient plant chemicals that
contain protective, disease-preventing compounds whose
most potent activity is prevention of cancer Supplementing
the diet with large quantities of phytosterols also
reduces cholesterol absorption and LDL-cholesterol concentrations
They can be divided into:
Flavonoids
- comprise the yellow and red/blue pigments
in fruits and vegetables. They have antioxidant properties
connected to those of vitamin C, as well as anticancer
activity.
Phyto-Estrogens - are plant substances
of different kinds (isoflavones, lignans) that have
an estrogenic effect in the body, which are present
largely in soy products and flax seed. There is evidence
that they possess inhibitory properties to prostate,
breast and colon cancer, as well as osteoporosis.
Isothiocyanates - are present in
cruciferous vegetables and inhibit cancer by detoxifying
the carcinogen and eliminating it. This has been mainly
recognized in gastrointestinal and respiratory tract
tumors.
Diallylsulfides - present in garlic,
onion, leeks and chives, have shown to reduce proliferation
of cancer cells, particularly cancer of the stomach
and colon.
Carotenes
– found in green and yellow-red vegetables are
hydrophobic substances whose antioxidant functions fight
a particular free radical known as singlet oxygen. Beta-carotene,
alpha-carotene and lycopene are the strongest antioxidants,
and are also active in the prevention of certain types
of cancer and macular degeneration of the eye.
Selenium
– part of one of the body’s natural antioxidant
enzymes, glutathione, as well as a metabolic defence
to mercury, lead, calcium and arsenic. 200 mcg. daily
selenium intake has a proven cancer inhibitory effect.
B-vitamins
-in particular, B5. B6, B12 and Folic acid, are associated
with lowering the levels of homocysteine, a risk factor
for heart disease. Vitamin B5 is an essential element
of energy-yielding oxidation of glucose products and
also enhances the ability to withstand stress.
Coenzyme
Q-10
-which acts like a vitamin, plays a critical role
in the respiratory chain providing energy, as well as
possessing antioxidant properties. CoQ10 is beneficial
in the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative
disorders.
Carnitine
- is a transport chemical required for the
passage of fatty acids across cell membranes. Meat and
diary products are major sources of carnitine which,
when supplemented, improves stress tolerance, causes
improvement in cognitive functions and has anti-fatigue
effects.
Hormones
There are two main types of hormone treatment used
today:
- HRT – oestrogren/progesterone
hormone replacement therapy often used to assist women
through menopause
- HGH –
human growth hormone supplements
Fatty Acids
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