For the Serious Health Conscious Consumer

According to a 2013 Gallup poll, 68% of Americans aged 65 and older take a multivitamin supplement.¹

Yet the majority of commercially formulated products contain little in the way of optimal potencies or forms of critical nutrients.

For instance, while younger people usually have healthy levels of internal enzymatic activity to convert folic acid into metabolically active 5-MTHF, this ability is often lost as people age.

As you can see from the chart on this page, even plant-derived natural folate requires multiple enzymatic steps to convert to biologically active 5-MTHF (5-methyltetrahydrofolate) in the body.

The solution to this enzyme deficit is the active form of folic acid, which is 5-MTHF. Most commercial formulas still use inexpensive forms of folate that may provide little benefit to aging humans.

Most of us rely on a multi-nutrient formula as the cornerstone of a healthy aging strategy. What few realize are that the leading brands (Centrum® and One-A-Day®) are made by drug companies. Big Pharma’s history shows little regard for the longterm health objectives shared by readers of this magazine.

This article describes an award-winning formula that provides meaningful potencies and optimal forms of vitamins and minerals, along with some standardized plant extracts.

Widespread Nutrient Deficiencies

Most Americans don’t obtain adequate nutritional support. One reason is that nutrition guidelines were developed to accommodate what was published by the federal government.

These government targets tend to represent the minimum level of any nutrient to sustain life (like preventing scurvy), instead of the amount of each nutrient that will maximize healthy longevity.

As a consequence, in the U.S.:²

• 93% of people don’t get enough vitamin E,

• 48% of people don’t get enough magnesium, and

• 31% of people don’t get enough vitamin C.

In order to achieve optimal health and well-being, the ideal daily dose of vitamins and minerals should be taken along with healthy plant extracts.

A Multivitamin Formula Designed to Optimize Health

To effectively promote health, aging individuals often need to take higher potencies of a variety of nutrients.

For a number of decades, our supporters struggled with having to take many different capsules to obtain what we consider the basics of good nutrition.

This prompted us 15 years ago to put together the Two-Per-Day formula that has grown enormously popular beyond our legacy group of longevity enthusiasts.

In addition to higher potencies, Two-Per-Day provides the optimal forms of vital nutrients.

For instance, this formula contains the 5-MTHF form of folic acid that is up to 7 times more bioavailable.^3,4 Also included is a diverse range of tocopherols (forms of vitamin E) that each has demonstrated biological benefits.

Two-Per-Day provides small amounts of nutrients that are not generally found in multivitamin products, such as alpha lipoic acid, and plant extracts such as apigenin and lycopene.

The low cost makes this formula one of the great bargains in the dietary supplement marketplace.

Every year, Life Extension^® reviews scientific studies to determine if nutrient potencies should be adjusted or if additional extracts can be added.

Available in tablet or capsule form, we’ve not seen any other product match soy-free, GMO-free Two-Per-Day formula. In fact, this product was rated the #1 Multivitamin for the sixth time, according to the 2018 ConsumerLab.com Survey of Supplement Users (more information at www.ConsumerLab.com).

Beats the Leading Brand

Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between Two-Per-Day and a widely advertised consumer multivitamin product on the market.

Two-Per-Day beats a widely advertised consumer multivitamin in 10 critical ways by providing:

• 50 times the vitamin B1,

• 25 times the vitamin B6,

• 12 times the vitamin B12,

• 10 times the biotin,

• 10 times the selenium,

• 8 times the vitamin C,

• 2.5 times the vitamin B3,

• 2 times the vitamin D,

• 2 times the vitamin E, and

• 2 times the zinc

In addition to its higher potencies, Two-Per-Day provides a broader array of vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts.

Most multivitamins do not contain the nutrients found in Two-Per-Day that can make a huge difference in your health, such as boron and mixed (vitamin E) tocopherols.

A Quick Look at Key Nutrients

In this section, we will examine just a few of the nutrients packed into Two-Per-Day.

Biologically Active Chromium

Chromium is an element that helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels already within normal range. Two-Per-Day formula uses a biologically active form of chromium, called Crominex^® 3+, which has been optimized with amla Indian gooseberry extract to promote endothelial health, and shilajit for
cellular energy.⁵

Vitamin D

Vitamin D doesn’t just support strong bones. It also promotes healthy cell division, immune function, and more.^6,7 Recognizing the widespread vitamin D deficiency, nutritional scientists recommend increased vitamin D intake. Two-Per-Day multivitamin delivers 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per daily serving. Some people take an additional 1,000-5,000 IU of vitamin D3 each day to achieve higher blood levels.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C’s association with immune-system health may result from its ability to scavenge free radicals and protect against oxidative stress, as well its stimulation of the production and function of white blood cells.^8,9 It is also vital to collagen formation, the critical connective tissue found in healthy arterial walls, skin, bones, and teeth.⁹ Two-Per-Day formula provides 470 mg of vitamin C per serving.

B Vitamins

B vitamins help release the energy stored in carbohydrates, fats, and proteins—energy that the body’s cells use to carry out their daily functions. Because the various B vitamins are metabolically codependent, they work together to keep you healthy. That is why the Two-Per-Day formula contains readily metabolized forms of vitamin B1, riboflavin (B2), vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folate (B9), and others.

Bioactive (5-MTHF) Folate

Two-Per-Day formula provides 400 mcg of a form of the B vitamin folate—called 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF)—that is up to seven times more bioavailable than folic acid. ⁴ Because 5-MTHF is already in a metabolically active form, this nutrient is particularly important for those with certain genetic enzyme defects.¹⁰

Mixed Vitamin E Tocopherols

Mixed vitamin E tocopherols are extremely valuable for their ability to work together to optimize health. Evidence shows that combining alpha- and gamma-tocopherols are more beneficial than taking either form alone for helping to regulate inflammatory factors and improve biomarkers of oxidative stress.¹¹ Two-Per-Day formula provides more than 80 mg of mixed tocopherols—including alpha-, beta-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherols.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Unlike the leading multivitamin brand—which contains none—Two-Per-Day formula provides a small (25 mg) dose of alpha lipoic acid. This compound helps to protect vitamin C and glutathione so that they can fight against damaging free radicals.^12-14

Three Unique Forms of Selenium

Selenium supports heart and brain health, promotes healthy inflammatory and immune responses, and helps quench the activity of free radicals. ^15,16 Two-Per-Day provides a total of 200 mcg of selenium in three unique forms: SelenoExcell^®, Se-methyl L-selenocysteine, and sodium selenite. Each of these selenium forms has specific beneficial biological properties that are clearly distinguishable, making each of them almost a separate nutrient by itself.

Apigenin

This formula contains a small (5 mg) dose of apigenin, a bioflavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables. ¹⁷ It helps to boost the body’s natural cellular defenses.

Marigold Extract

The marigold extract in Two-Per-Day provides a small amount of standardized trans-lutein and trans-zeaxanthin, two plant compounds that promote ocular health.^18-21

Molybdenum

Two-Per-Day contains 100 mcg of molybdenum—more than twice the amount found in the leading multivitamin brand. This mineral is important to many enzyme functions and is a coenzyme in several enzymes, including those necessary for the detoxification of alcohol and the metabolism of sulfur.²²

Beta-Carotene/Vitamin A

This formula provides vitamin A from two sources: retinyl acetate and beta-carotene. Vitamin A helps support healthy vision, cellular differentiation and proliferation, integrity of the immune system, the body’s defenses against free radicals, the formation of thyroid hormones, and healthy skin and mucous membranes. It also contributes to the growth of bone, teeth, and soft tissues.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a flavonol that supports cellular health and function. It may help inhibit the release of inflammation-causing substances,^23,24 in turn supporting a healthy immune response to a seasonally changing environment. Quercetin may also support a healthy cardiovascular system by preserving endothelial integrity.²⁵ Two-Per-Day now contains a unique form of quercetin that is highly bioavailable.

Summary

Most Americans take a daily multivitamin, but there are huge differences in the potencies contained in each daily dose.

Life Extension’s Two-Per-Day is designed to provide the highest amount and broadest diversity that can fit into two capsules or tablets. It should ideally be taken twice a day (one capsule or tablet with two different meals) because many of the nutrients are water soluble and exit the body rather quickly.

Two-Per-Day provides an easy and affordable way to obtain a broad range of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that help retain one’s precious health.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension® Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

1. Available at: https://news.gallup.com/poll/166541/half-americans-vitamins-regularly.aspx. Accessed October 2, 2018.
2. Available at: https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400530/pdf/0102/usualintaketables2001-02.pdf. Accessed September 26, 2018.
3. Lamers Y, Prinz-Langenohl R, Bramswig S, et al. Red blood cell folate concentrations increase more after supplementation with [6S]-5-methyltetrahydrofolate than with folic acid in women of childbearing age. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006Jul;84(1):156-61.
4. Willems FF, Boers GH, Blom HJ, et al. Pharmacokinetic study on the utilisation of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and folic acid in patients with coronary artery disease. Br J Pharmacol. 2004Mar;141(5):825-30.
5. Biswas T, Polley G, Pandit S, et al. Effects of adjunct therapy of a proprietary herbo-chromium supplement in type 2 diabetes: A randomized clinical trial. Int J Diab Dev Ctries. 2010;30(3):153-61.
6. Wang H, Chen W, Li D, et al. Vitamin D and Chronic Diseases. Aging Dis. 2017May;8(3):346-53.
7. Christakos S, Hewison M, Gardner DG, et al. Vitamin D: beyond bone. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013May;1287:45-58.
8. Lykkesfeldt J, Michels AJ, Frei B. Vitamin C. Adv Nutr. 2014Jan 1;5(1):16-8.
9. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-C. Accessed September 26, 2018.
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11. Devaraj S, Leonard S, Traber MG, et al. Gamma-tocopherol supplementation alone and in combination with alpha-tocopherol alters biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in subjects with metabolic syndrome. Free Radic Biol Med. 2008Mar 15;44(6):1203-8.
12. Bustamante J, Lodge JK, Marcocci L, et al. Alpha-lipoic acid in liver metabolism and disease. Free Radic Biol Med. 1998Apr;24(6):1023-39.
13. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/lipoic-acid. Accessed September 26, 2018.
14. Tibullo D, Li Volti G, Giallongo C, et al. Biochemical and clinical relevance of alpha lipoic acid: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, molecular pathways and therapeutic potential. Inflamm Res. 2017Nov;66(11):947-59.
15. Solovyev ND. Importance of selenium and selenoprotein for brain function: From antioxidant protection to neuronal signalling. J Inorg Biochem. 2015Dec;153:1-12.
16. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/selenium. Accessed September 26, 2018.
17. Shukla S, Gupta S. Apigenin: a promising molecule for cancer prevention. Pharm Res. 2010Jun;27(6):962-78.
18. Available at: https://www.bibonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/KHETL-017-008-The-Beneficial-Role-of-Lutein-and-Zeaxanthin-in-Cataract_A-Review.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2018.
19. Abdel-Aal el SM, Akhtar H, Zaheer K, et al. Dietary sources of lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids and their role in eye health. Nutrients. 2013Apr 9;5(4):1169-85.
20. Mares J. Lutein and Zeaxanthin Isomers in Eye Health and Disease. Annu Rev Nutr. 2016Jul 17;36:571-602.
21. Roberts JE, Dennison J. The Photobiology of Lutein and Zeaxanthin in the Eye. J Ophthalmol. 2015;2015:687173.
22. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/molybdenum. Accessed September 28, 2018.
23. Park HH, Lee S, Son HY, et al. Flavonoids inhibit histamine release and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in mast cells. Arch Pharm Res. 2008Oct;31(10):1303-11.
24. Castellani ML, Kempuraj D, Frydas S, et al. Inhibitory effect of quercetin on tryptase and MCP-1 chemokine release, and histidine decarboxylase mRNA transcription by human mast cell-1 cell line. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2006;13(3):179-86.
25. Lekakis J, Rallidis LS, Andreadou I, et al. Polyphenolic compounds from red grapes acutely improve endothelial function in patients with coronary heart disease. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2005Dec;12(6):596-600.