It is known that the activation of FOXO transcription factors promote extreme longevity, which has been demonstrated in research animals as well as in animals such as the multi-cell animal hydra. In human longevity, those with gene variants which activate higher levels of FOXO are also the longest lived with least amounts of illness and disease.
Despite years of research declaring that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, promoted longevity, none have been shown to activate the longevity factors FOXO or Nrf2. Rather, potent longevity factor activation has been shown by many plant based flavonoids. (1) Flavonoids are yellow in nature, and the word is derived from the latin flavus, which means yellow.
Other FOXO Activators and Longevity Pathways:
REFERENCES:
(1) Pallauf K, et al. Flavonoids as Putative Inducers of the Transcription Factors Nrf2, FoxO, and PPARγ. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017
(2) Paredes-Gonzales X, et al. Induction of NRF2-mediated gene expression by dietary phytochemical flavones apigenin and luteolin. Biopharm Drug Dispos. 2015 Oct
(3) Zhang L, et al. Significant longevity-extending effects of EGCG on Caenorhabditis elegans under stress Free Radic Biol Med.
(4) Wai-Jiao Cai, et al. Icariin and its Derivative Icariside II Extend Healthspan via Insulin/IGF-1 Pathway in C. elegans. PLoS One, 2011
(5) Zhang SQ, et al. Icariin, a natural flavonol glycoside, extends healthspan in mice. Exp Gerontol. 2015 Sep;
(6) Jung HY, et al. Myricetin improves endurance capacity and mitochondrial density by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1α. Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 24
(7) Tang BL. Sirt1 and the Mitochondria. Mol Cells. 2016 Feb
(8) Xiang L, et al. Tetrahydrocurcumin extends life span and inhibits the oxidative stress response by regulating the FOXO forkhead transcription factor. Aging (Albany NY) 2011 Nov
(9) Shen LR, et al. Curcumin-supplemented diets increase superoxide dismutase activity and mean lifespan in Drosophila. Age (Dordr) 2013 Aug;
While we live in an age where people are living longer, an important limiting factor on longevity is the ability of the heart to maintain function. Known causes of death for the oldest people on record (over 110 years old) were recorded as heart failure. Heart failure is due to the gradual loss of cardiomyocytes (heart muscle cells) and the increase in scarring of the heart muscle. The process may take place due to low grade inflammation of the muscle, which progresses with age, or injury (such as a heart attack) which may cause a more sudden loss of heart function. Inflammation in the cardiovascular system is common with the aging process, being the result of hypertension, high blood glucose, trigylcerides, or oxidized VDL cholesterol.
Cardiac Aging Characteristics:
Key Conditions of the Aging Heart
Natural support for Cardio Anti-aging
CARDIO VITALITY (Terminalia Arjuna (Rejuna))
YELLOW LONGEVITY (Curcumin, EGCG, Apigenin, Luteolin, Icariin, Carnosic Acid)*
YELLOW NATURALLY (Curcumin, EGCG, Apigenin, Luteolin, Icariin, Carnosic Acid)*
VISION VITALITY MAX (Lutein, Meso Zeaxanthin)
XGEVITY (Glucoraphanin precursor to Sulforaphane)*
*Andrographolide is also included
REFERENCES:
(1) Steenman M, et al. Cardiac aging and heart disease in humans. Biophys Rev. 2017 Apr;
(2) Zhu ZY, et al. Apigenin ameliorates hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and down-regulates cardiac hypoxia inducible factor-lα in rats. Food Funct. 2016 Apr;7
(3) Liu HJ, et al. Apigenin alleviates STZ-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy. Mol Cell Biochem. 2017 Apr
(4) Hu W, et al. Luteolin improves cardiac dysfunction in heart failure rats by regulating sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a. Sci Rep. 2017 Jan
(5) Oberoi L, et al. The aqueous extract, not organic extracts, of Terminalia arjuna bark exerts cardiotonic effect on adult ventricular myocytes. Phytomedicine. 2011 Feb 15
(6) Parveen A, et al. Terminalia arjuna enhances baroreflex sensitivity and myocardial function in isoproterenol-induced chronic heart failure rats. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Jun
(7) Kaliq F, et al, Improvement in myocardial function by Terminalia arjuna in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: possible mechanisms. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Sept.
(8) Kumar S, et al. Proteomic analysis of the protective effects of aqueous bark extract of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) on isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Feb 23
(9) Kocak C, et al, Molecular and biochemical evidence on the protective effects of embelin and carnosic acid in isoproterenol-induced acute myocardial injury in rats. Life Sci. 2016 Feb 15
(10) Chung RWS, et al. Lutein exerts anti-inflammatory effects in patients with coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis. 2017 May 6;
(11) Girandola RN, et al. Effect of E-OJ-01 on Cardiac Conditioning in Young Exercising Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Ther. 2017 May
(12) Qian ZQ, et al. Icariin prevents hypertension-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017 Apr.
(13) Gu J, et al. Metallothionein Is Downstream of Nrf2 and Partially Mediates Sulforaphane Prevention of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy. Diabetes. 2017 Feb;
(14) Lin CM, et al. Suppressive effect of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate on endoglin molecular regulation in myocardial fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. J Cell Mol Med. 2016 Nov;
(15) Tan WS, et al. Is there a future for andrographolide to be an anti-inflammatory drug? Deciphering its major mechanisms of action. Biochem Pharmacol. 2017 Apr 2
(16) Lv FH, et al. Effects of curcumin on the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and the expression of NF-κB, PPAR-γ and Bcl-2 in rats with myocardial infarction injury. Exp Ther Med. 2016 Dec
(17) Khaliq F, et al. Improvement in myocardial function by Terminalia arjuna in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: possible mechanisms. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther, 2013 Sep
(18) Hashemzaei M, et al. Regulation of autophagy by some natural products as a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular disorders. Eur J Pharmacol. 2017 May
(19) Hu J, et al. Luteolin alleviates post-infarction cardiac dysfunction by up-regulating autophagy through Mst1 inhibition. J Cell Mol Med, 2016 Jan
(20) Meghwani H, et al. Beneficial effects of aqueous extract of stem bark of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.), An ayurvedic drug in experimental pulmonary hypertension. J Ethnopharmocol. 2017 Feb 2
(21) Woo AY, et al. Andrographolide up-regulates cellular-reduced glutathione level and protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008 Apr
(22) Zhang J, et al. Andrographolide Attenuates LPS-Induced Cardiac Malfunctions Through Inhibition of IκB Phosphorylation and Apoptosis in Mice. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2015
(23) Fernandes RO, et al. Sulforaphane effects on postinfarction cardiac remodeling in rats: modulation of redox-sensitive prosurvival and proapoptotic proteins. J Nutr Biochem. 2016 Aug
MITOPHAGY AND LONGEVITY
NRF2 - THE ROLE IN MITOPHAGY AND LONGEVITY Nrf2 is a latent protein in the cell, which upon activation, regulates the activation of genes which produce antioxidant proteins for cellular protection, reduction of inflammation and reduction of mitochondrial toxins (via glutathione induction).
REFERENCES:
(1) Palikaras K, et al. Mitophagy: In sickness and in health. Mol Cell Oncol. 2015 Jun.
(2) Palikaras K, et al. Coupling mitogenesis and mitophagy for longevity. Autophagy. 2015.
(3) LaPierre L, et al. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of autophagy in aging. Autophagy. 2015 Jun
(4) Greco T, et al. Sulforaphane Inhibits Mitochondrial Permeability Transition and Oxidative Stress. Free Radic Biol Med, 2012 Dec
(5) Holstrom Kira, et al. The multifaceted role of Nrf2 in mitochondrial function. Curr Opin Toxicol. 2016 Dec
(6) Wang K, et al. Redox homeostasis: the linchpin in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Cell Death Dis. 2013 Mar
(7) Russo M, et al. Nrf2 targeting by sulforaphane: a potential therapy for cancer treatment. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016 Dec
(8) O'Mealey GB, et al. Sulforaphane is a Nrf2-independent inhibitor of mitochondrial fission. Redox Biol. 2016 Nov
Air pollution is a pervasive and often ignored factor in the aging process. Airborne ultra-fine (nanoparticles) pollution particles are microscopic and pose special dangers to health. Researchers agree that ultra-fine air pollution particles are a major threat in negative health consequences in humans. (1) While being very detrimental to the lungs, long-term exposure to ultra-fine particles also damages the cardiovascular system, contributes to atherosclerosis plaque formation and may lead to degenerative brain diseases - including Alzheimer's disease. These very small particles are able to travel deep into lung tissue and into the blood stream. As a result, there are significant increases in systemic oxidative stress, inflammation with increased DNA damage and mutagenicity. (2-6) Telomere length, which is an indicator of biological aging, becomes shorter in people living in air pollution areas. Shorter telomeres is associated with accelerated aging.(7-8)
Neuroinflammation. Especially alarming is the effect of ultra-fine particles on the brain. Airborne nano-sized particulate matter migrates through the lungs into the bloodstream and eventually into the brain. Longtime exposure to ultra-fine air pollutants leads to chronic brain inflammation which leads to neurodegenerative diseases. Epidemiological research has linked ultra-fine air particulate matter as a significant environmental factor involved in Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease.(2)
Ultra-fine pollutant particles are produced by high heat sources including automobiles, trucks, airplane exhaust and factories and play a significant role in health and longevity. Urban areas, transit routes (highways and roads) and airports are major sources of pollutants but the suburbs are not immune. Such pollutants are so small that most people are unaware that they are inhaling toxic pollutants. Airborne fine particulate matter is a major component of air pollution.
Sources of ultra-fine particle pollutants:
(1) City / Urban Areas Particulate Matter. Urban areas create a confluence of major activity which generate ultra-fine air pollution. In studies involving six China urban areas, ultra-fine particulate matter (PM), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), were analyzed. The particulate matter was determined as having cytotoxicty to the bronchial cells of the lungs.(9) Substantial sources of outdoor PAHs in particulate pollution include cars and trucks.
(2) Highways / roadways. high volumes of traffic on highways are significant sources of ultra-fine particulate matter and PAH which is then distributed to surrounding areas and runoff into water ways. People living close to major roadways have increased health risks due increased air pollution exposure. Road paving and asphalt manufacturing are also major sources.
(3) Indoor sources. Burning of biofuels including coal and wood create dangerous levels of emissions. Also emissions from cigarette smoke.
(4) Diesel exhaust - classified as a group 1 carcinogen. Shown to cause lung and possibly bladder cancer.Contains nitric oxide and fine particulate matter.
(5) Airports / Aircraft turbine engines - these aircraft engines produce significant levels of hazardous ultra-fine air pollutants (including benzene and formaldehyde) at both in flight and ground levels. In fact, air quality impacts areas extend far from the airports. The LA times reports that communities as far as 10 miles from LAX airport are exposed to unsafe levels of air pollutants from aircraft engine exhaust.(10)
Natural Support:
SULFORAPHANE - Sulforaphane is a potent activator of phase 2 detoxification in the body. In a study in high air pollution areas in China, sulforaphane beverages were shown to signifcantly increase metabolism and excretion of hazardous air pollutants benzene and acrolein in participants.(11) Further studies indicate that through activation of Nrf2, sulforaphane enhances protection against airborne toxin carcinogens and carcinogenesis. (12) Sulforaphane also protects against oxidant effects of diesel emission by invoking an over expression of antioxidant enzymes.(13)
N-ACETYL-CYSTEINE - Offers protection against air pollution induced inflammation. Includes specific mitigation against formaldehyde induced lung damage. Formaldehyde is a major emission toxin from airplane exhaust.(14)
XGEVITY (Glucoraphanin / Sulforaphane and N-Acetyl-Cysteine)
AIR VITALITY (Glucoraphanin / Sulforaphane and N-Acetyl-Cysteine)
REFERENCES:
(1) Chen R, et al. Beyond PM2.5: The role of ultrafine particles on adverse health effects of air pollution. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 Dec
(2) Heusinkveld HJ, et al. Neurodegenerative and neurological disorders by small inhaled particles. Neurotoxicology. 2016 Sep
(3) Valavanidis A, et al. Airborne particulate matter and human health: toxicological assessment and importance of size and composition of particles for oxidative damage and carcinogenic mechanisms. Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2008 Oct-DecBottom of Form
(4) Pope CA, et al. Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution Is Associated with Endothelial Injury and Systemic Inflammation. Circ Res. 2016 Oct 25
(5) Bai Y, et al. Fine particulate matter air pollution and atherosclerosis: Mechanistic insights. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 Dec
(6) Risom L, et al. Oxidative stress-induced DNA damage by particulate air pollution. Mutat Res. 2005 Dec 30
(7) Martens Ds, et al. Air Pollution Stress and the Aging Phenotype: The Telomere Connection. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2016 Sep
(8) Ward-Caviness CK, et al. Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with biological aging. Oncotarget 2016 Oct 25
(9) Yang L, et al. Pro-inflammatory response and oxidative stress induced by specific components in ambient particulate matter in human bronchial epithelial cells. Environ Toxicol. 2016 Aug
(10) Ridgeway L. New concerns raised about air pollution at LAX. May 30, 2014
(11) Egnar PA, et al. Rapid and sustainable detoxication of airborne pollutants by broccoli sprout beverage: results of a randomized clinical trial in China.
(12) Kensler TW, et al. Keap1-nrf2 signaling: a target for cancer prevention by sulforaphane. Top Curr Chem. 2013.
(13) Wan J, et al. Antioxidant enzyme induction: a new protective approach against the adverse effects of diesel exhaust particles. Inhal Toxicol 2007.
(14) Wang M, et al. N-acetylcysteine: A promising drug against formaldehyde-induced damage in lung epithelial cells. Med Hypotheses. 2014 Nov
The unique flavonoids in citrus bergamia (Bergamonte®) have been previously shown to have potent cardioprotective properties including effective cholesterol support. Further research indicates that citrus bergamia flavonoids have additional beneficial properties which affect disease progression and longevity.(1)
VASCULAR STRENGTH (Bergamonte®)
Bergamonte® is a registered trademark of HP Ingredients.
REFERENCES:
(1) HP Ingredients October 2016.
(2) Salminen A, et al. Age-related changes in AMPK activation: Role for AMPK phosphatases and inhibitory phosphorylation by upstream signaling pathways. Ageing Res Rev. 2016 Jul;
In humans, there are two types of adipose tissue. White adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue. White adipose tissue is associated with excessive fat storage, obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. Whereas, brown adipose tissue has the opposite effect - producing energy, reducing fat storage and obesity, while increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing diabetes. Further, increasing expression of brown adipose tissue (adipocytes) may also be correlated with increases in longevity.
Newborns have the greatest amount of brown fat, which helps provide a source of heat, but gradually decreases with age. Adults have a predominance of white adipose tissue which correlate with America's obesity epidemic.
ADIPOCYTES COMPARISON
BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE
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NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT SUPPORT:
"Browning" of White Adipocytes.Research indicates that fat storing white adipocytes may be altered to take on the characteristics of energy producing brown adipocytes. Such changes to white adipocytes may be an effective strategy for reducing obesity and obesity related disorders (such as insulin resistance and diabetes). Improving insulin sensitivity is a factor not only in diabetes, but also considered significant in longevity.
Improvement in number and function of mitochondria during brown fat adipogenesis. This may result in higher energy brown adipose tissue enabling even a stronger thermogenic response
XGEVITY Glucoraphanin (precursor of Sulforaphane)
CURCUMIN XTRA-MAX (includes Andrographolide)
BLUE NATURALLY (high anthocyanins and C3G)
REFERENCES:
(1) Inagaki T, et al. Transcriptional and epigenetic control of brown and beige adipose cell fate and function. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2016 Jun 2
(2) Qian SW, et al. BMP4-mediated brown fat-like changes in white adipose tissue alter glucose and energy homeostasis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013 Feb
(3) Mookerjee SA, et al. Mitochondrial Uncoupling and Lifespan. Mech Ageing Dev. 2010 Jul - Aug.
(4) Zhang HQ, et al. Sulforaphane induces adipocyte browning and promotes glucose and lipid utilization. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2016 May 24
(5) Lone J, et al. Curcumin induces brown fat-like phenotype in 3T3-L1 and primary white adipocytes. J Nutr Biochem. 2016 Jan
(6) Ding L, et al. Andrographolide prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice by suppressing the sterol regulatory element-binding protein pathway. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2014 Nov
(7) You Y, et al. Mulberry and mulberry wine extract increase the number of mitochondria during brown adipogenesis. Food Funct. 2015 Feb
How and to what extent microbes influence on health is a relatively new area of study. Amazingly, the influence of gut microbiota on general health and longevity is only now becoming understood. Recent attention is scientific areas concern the importance of intestinal microbes and how they affect not only health of the the gut but also overall health of the body.(1) An area of keen interest is the production of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) by microbial fermentation in the gut and how it can significantly improve health.(2)
Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs - acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid) are produced as a fermentation byproduct of soluble fiber (e.g nuts, seeds, certain vegetables) by microbes in the large intestine.
Among the beneficial effects of SCFA's include:
THE ROLE OF TAURINE IN SHORT CHAIN FATTY ACID PRODUCTION.
Furthermore, research indicates that taurine supplementation may significantly improve the intestinal microbiotic environment by increasing the production of SCFAs and decreasing inflammatory concentrations of serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS induced inflammation is a common issue facilitated by the processed western diet.(5)
LONGEVITY NATURALLY (High Taurine Complex)
REFERENCES:
(1) Andoh A. Physiological Role of Gut Microbiota for Maintaining Human Health. Digestion. 2016 Feb 9
(2) KeenanMJ, et al. Improving healthspan via changes in gut microbiota and fermentation. Age (Dordr). 2015 Oct.
(3) Hartl FU. Cellular Homeostasis and Aging. Annu Rev Biochem. 2016 Apr 6.
(4) Puddu A, et al. Evidence for the gut microbiota short-chain fatty acids as key pathophysiological molecules improving diabetes. Mediators Inflamm. 2014
(5) Yu H, et al. Effects of taurine on gut microbiota and metabolism in mice. Amino Acids. 2016 Mar 30.