 | July 24, 2009 | Vitamin C and E supplementation associated with reduced five year mortality | | An article published online on July 13, 2009 in the American Journal of Epidemiology reported the results of a study conducted by researchers at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center which found that vitamin C and vitamin E supplement users had a lower risk of dying over a five year period than those who did not supplement. For their analysis, Gaia Pocobelli and colleagues evaluated data from 77,673 participants in the Vitamins and Lifestyle Study of men and women aged 50 to 76. Questionnaires completed between 2000 and 2002 provided information on the participants' supplement use over the previous ten years. Deaths that occurred over the following five years were classified as being due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, or other causes. Over the follow-up period, 3,577 deaths occurred. Participants who reported using vitamin C and vitamin E supplements were found to have a lower risk of dying from any cause than those who did not use the supplements. Subjects whose vitamin C supplementation was in the top one-third of participants at an average daily dose of 322.1 milligrams per day or higher over the 10 year period had an 11 percent lower risk of dying than nonusers. Those whose vitamin E supplementation was among the highest third of participants at an average of 215.1 milligrams per day or more also experienced an 11 percent lower risk of dying over follow-up than those who did not supplement. When the analysis was restricted to those who never smoked, participants in the top third of vitamin C supplementation were found to have a 24 percent lower risk of dying than nonusers, and for those in the top third of vitamin E, the risk was 20 percent lower. A similarly decreased risk was shown for those whose body mass index was 30 or greater and those whose intake of fruit and vegetables was below the median. "Our findings of stronger associations between total mortality risk and use of vitamins C and E among persons with greater body mass index and lesser fruit and vegetable consumption are consistent with the hypothesis that any impact of vitamins C and E on total mortality risk may be stronger among persons with greater levels of oxidative stress," the authors write. "On the other hand, the associations between use of vitamins C and E and total mortality risk were stronger among never smokers than among current/recent smokers, yet smoking is thought to increase oxidative stress." When mortality was examined by cause, multivitamin use of 6 to 7 days per week was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease death and vitamin E use averaging over 215 milligrams per day was associated with a 28 percent lower risk. In their introduction to the article, the authors note that oxidative damage, which can be prevented, in part, by antioxidant vitamins, has adverse effects on DNA, proteins, and lipids that is associated with diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis. However, they recommend caution in interpreting the current study's findings, since supplement users tend to adopt other healthy lifestyle practices that reduce the development of major diseases and related mortality. | |  |  | | Interestingly, only about half the people with coronary artery disease have more traditional risk factors, such as elevated cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity. Yet all patients with atherosclerosis suffer from endothelial dysfunction and the damaging effects of oxidized LDL, which provides an important building block for plaque deposits. Antioxidant therapy is therefore important to limit the oxidization of LDL and improve the health of the endothelium by limiting the damage caused by inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin C inhibits damage caused by oxidative stress. In cigarette smokers, daily supplementation with 500 mg vitamin C significantly decreased the appearance of oxidative stress markers (Dietrich M et al 2002). Another study showed that supplementation with 500 mg vitamin C and 400 IU vitamin E daily significantly reduced the development of accelerated coronary arteriosclerosis following cardiac transplantation (Fang JC et al 2002). Vitamin C’s benefits seem especially profound in people who suffer from both diabetes and coronary artery disease. One study demonstrated that, in this group, vitamin C significantly improved vasodilation (Antoniades C et al 2004). Vitamin E is often studied in conjunction with vitamin C for its potent antioxidant powers. It has been shown to decrease lipid peroxidation and inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation, platelet aggregation, monocyte adhesion, oxidized LDL uptake, and cytokine production—all of which occur during atherosclerosis (Munteanu A et al 2004; Harris A et al 2002). In cultured arterial endothelial cells, vitamin E increased the production of prostacyclin, a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation (Wu D et al 2004). Most vitamin E supplements come in the form of alpha tocopherol. Life Extension recommends about 400 IU alpha-tocopherol a day, along with at least 200 mg gamma-tocopherol and 100 mg of coenzyme Q10. There is a concern that taking only the “alpha” form of vitamin E could deplete the body of gamma tocopherol, a critically important antioxidant. Coenzyme Q10 helps regenerate oxidized vitamin E in the body. | Events
Yes We Can . . . Think Outside the Box
A conference on science-based medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida October 3-4, 2009 Topics Will Include: - Evolution of Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy
- Stepping Above the Standard of Care: By the Book
- Genomics: A Key to Personalized and Individualized Medicine
- Endocrinology: The Things We Never Learned In School About Balancing Our Glands And Hormones
- Neurotransmitters: The Biochemistry and Balancing of Your Body’s Messengers
- “Let Your Food Be Your Medicine and Your Medicine Be Your Food”: Yes, Clinical Nutrition is Science-Based
- What’s Best for Your Practice & Your Patient: The Legal and Political Ramifications
- Compounded Medications: The Bioavailability and Other Considerations When Choosing How to Design Protocols for Your Patients
- Testing: New Advances in Testing Including Saliva, Urine, Hair, Feces and Blood
- Amazing New Advances in Weight Loss Using Herbs
- Vitamin D…the Little-Known Hormone that May Save Your Life
- Putting Nutraceuticals and Natural Products into Your Practice
- Mood Therapies/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Obesity and GI Disorders
For those conference participants who might need to book accommodations, Life Extension has secured a special rate of $89 per night for a limited number of rooms at The Westin Fort Lauderdale. Additional days at this rate before or after the event will be based on availability. Reservations must be made by September 2, 2009. Shuttle service to and from Nova University will be provided. - Outdoor whirlpool
- WestinWORKOUT® gym
- Wake-up service available
- Luggage storage
- Express check-out
- And many more special features!
Call 1-800-791-4457 or visit: http://www.levacations.com/ | |  | Optimized Folate (L-Methylfolate)   | | Folate is involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and critical enzymatic reactions throughout the body. By depleting excess homocysteine, folate benefits cardiovascular health and nervous system function. Those who take ordinary folic acid supplements, however, may not be experiencing its full spectrum of effects. This is because once ingested, not everyone converts folate to its biologically active form called 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). Research shows that in a large proportion of the population, genetic enzyme deficiencies prevent the conversion of folate to 5-MTHF, leaving many vulnerable to low blood folate levels (and higher than desired homocysteine). A more useful approach is to take the bioactive folate 5-MTHF directly, which has been declassified as a drug and is now available as a dietary supplement. | | |  | | Scientists have begun to investigate the ability of certain biological components of whey protein to enhance immunity. Those include: lactoferrin, beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and immunoglobulins. Years of scientific research have resulted in the development of a specially designed whey protein that can boost immune function, protect against free radical attack, and maintain lean muscle mass. Life Extension® offers whey protein powders in four flavors that contain added lactoferrin. Life Extension uses a production method that produces a high quality whey protein isolate. Using a low temperature microfiltration technique, it is possible to produce a 98% undenatured whey protein isolate that acts as a powerful immune stimulant and retains all the important sub-fractions, such as lactoferrin, a strong antioxidant with immune-stimulating properties. | | | |  | | Life Extension Update | | What's Hot | | Life Extension magazine | |
