What's Hot
What's Hot
News flashes are posted here frequently to keep you up-to-date with the latest advances in health and longevity. We have an unparalleled track record of breaking stories about life extension advances.
Research suggests higher testosterone reference ranges for young men
October 31 2022. In an article appearing on October 25, 2022, in the Journal of Urology, Alex Zhu, DO, of University of Michigan and his associates asserted that the standard cutoff for testosterone deficiency of 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) is too low for men younger than 45 years of age. The study is "the first evaluation of normative, population-based testosterone levels for young men in the United States,” according to Dr Zhu and colleagues.
October 31 2022. In an article appearing on October 25, 2022, in the “There is an age-related decline in male testosterone production,” they wrote. “It is therefore surprising that young men are evaluated for testosterone deficiency with the same cutoff of 300 ng/dL that was developed from samples of older men.”
The investigation included 1,486 men between the ages of 20 to 44 years who participated in the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) of United States residents. Men who were receiving hormone replacement therapy were excluded from the study. The men’s testosterone levels were evaluated according to 5-year age groups. Testosterone levels that fell in the middle one-third of each group were categorized as normal.
For every 1-year increase in age, a 4.3 ng/dL decline in testosterone was observed. Normal levels of testosterone for men aged 20 to 24 years were categorized as 409-558 ng/dL, for those 25-29 as 413-575 ng/dL, for men 30 to 34 as 359-498 ng/dL, for 35-39-year-olds as 352-478 ng/dL and for 40 to 44-year-olds as 350-473 ng/dL. This resulted in age-specific cutoffs for low testosterone levels of 409, 413, 359, 352 and 350 ng/dL for each age group.
"Young men have different testosterone reference ranges than older men," Dr Zhu remarked. "Our findings suggest we should be using age-specific cutoffs when assessing testosterone levels in younger men."
—D Dye
Chlorophyllin shows promise for inflammatory bowel disease
October 28 2022. The August 2022 issue of the American Journal of Physiology Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology reported research which found that supplementation with chlorophyllin suppressed intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
October 28 2022. The August 2022 issue of the Chlorophyllin is a water-soluble derivative of chlorophyll, the pigment that gives green plants their color. “Consuming green-colored vegetables or green pigment supplement such as chlorophyllin might help people with inflammatory bowel disease,” senior author Xiaofeng Zheng, PhD, of Sichuan University West China Hospital in Chengdu, China predicted.
Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are characterized by chronic inflammation and intestinal autophagy abnormalities. Autophagy is a process in which the body consumes its own tissue. While autophagy is desirable in a healthy state, it is detrimentally increased in some diseases.
Current treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases include immunosuppressant medications and surgery, both of which are associated with potentially serious adverse effects. “The study was designed to determine the effect of safe agents that are easily available to have a beneficial effect in inflammatory bowel disease,” commented report coauthor Stephen J. Pandol, MD, of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
The team induced colitis in mice by administering dextran sulfate sodium. They found that supplementing the animals’ diets with chlorophyllin or directly administering the compound suppressed intestinal inflammation and downregulated disease-associated autophagy in the intestine.
“What we found in the study was that the agent used, chlorophyllin, would inhibit the inflammation and tissue damage that occurs in an experimental model of colitis,” Dr Pandol commented. “In this case it was in a mouse model. The results were promising in an experimental model, and those can justify a clinical trial.”
“So, it’s like the first step to show potential application to human disease.”
—D Dye
AMA journal affirms benefit of prostate cancer screening
October 26 2022. A large study published on October 24, 2022 in JAMA Oncology found that Veterans Health Administration facilities that had higher rates of screening for prostate cancer with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests had lower subsequent rates of metastatic prostate cancer among their patients.
October 26 2022. A large study published on October 24, 2022 in The results were announced at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting held this year in San Antonio.
“Conflicting research results understandably have led to reasonable variations in screening patterns,” lead author Alex K. Bryant, MD, remarked. “Physicians have very different feelings on the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening. Some physicians feel the benefits of screening far outweigh the risks of false positives.”
“Given the ambiguous clinical trial data about the efficacy of PSA screening we were hoping to see if we could find an association that suggested screening might be affecting rates of metastatic prostate cancer in the real world.”
The 15-year retrospective study included data from men who visited one of 128 Veterans Health Administration facilities. The group included 4,678,412 men in 2005 and grew to 5,371,701 men in 2019. Yearly PSA screening rates were defined as the proportion of men aged 40 years and older who had a PSA test each year. Long-term nonscreening rates were defined as the proportion of men who did not have a PSA test within the previous 3 years from 2005 through 2014.
The study found a 9% reduction in metastatic prostate cancer in association with each 10% increase in yearly PSA screening rate. Each 10% increase in long-term nonscreening rates was associated with an 11% increase in metastatic prostate cancer incidence 5 years later.
Dr Bryant emphasized the importance of screening to detect prostate cancer before it metastasizes. “It is still treatable, but once it spreads it’s a deadly disease,” he noted. “Our results support a benefit in prostate cancer screening in reducing metastatic prostate cancer risk.”
—D Dye
Atherosclerosis, ED, low vitamin D levels linked
October 24 2022. A study published on October 6, 2022, in Frontiers in Endocrinologyevaluated the associations between lower serum levels of vitamin D, erectile dysfunction (ED) and an increased risk of atherosclerosis.
October 24 2022. A study published on October 6, 2022, in The investigation included 163 men aged 30 to 60 years who received physical examinations at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from October 2021 to January 2022. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and other factors. Carotid intima-media thickness, an indicator of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, was measured using ultrasound. International index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5) scores were graded as mild, moderate or severe according to ED severity. Thirty-nine participants whose IIEF-5 scores indicated no ED served as control subjects.
Serum vitamin D levels were lower and carotid intima-media thickness values were higher among men with moderate and severe ED compared to the control group. Carotid intima-media thickness was significantly higher among men with severe ED compared with those who had mild ED. After adjustment, significant correlations were found between IIEF-5 scores, carotid intima-media thickness and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
In their discussion, authors Jun-hao Zhang of Soochow University and colleagues remarked that vitamin D may affect erectile function via its interaction with the endothelial cells of the corpora cavernosa, which is the spongy tissue within the penis that fills with blood during an erection. Vitamin D may affect the production and release by endothelial cells of nitric oxide, a compound that helps relax the blood vessels, thereby improving erectile function. The vitamin may also help decrease damage to endothelial cell function caused by oxidative stress.
“Serum vitamin D level should be analyzed in men with ED, especially in patients with vasculogenic ED, and supplementation is recommended for those who were with vitamin D deficiency,” the authors wrote.
—D Dye
Long term intensive blood pressure treatment essential to maintain cardiovascular benefit
October 21 2022. A study reported October 12, 2022 in the AMA journal JAMA Cardiology found that intensive management of hypertension needs to be consistent to lower the risk of premature mortality.
October 21 2022. A study reported October 12, 2022 in the AMA journal The current study was an extended observational follow-up of the SPRINT randomized trial. SPRINT was conducted from November 2010 to August 2015 and included 9,361 men and women aged 50 years and older with high blood pressure and increased cardiovascular risk. Participants received intensive treatment to lower their systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mmHg or standard therapy with a goal of systolic pressure of less than 140 mmHg. During a median 3.3-year period, intensive treatment lowered the risk of cardiovascular mortality by 34% and mortality from any cause by 17% compared with standard treatment.
The most recent investigation followed the participants from August 2015 through December 2020, which included the first 11 months after the discontinuation of the original trial during which the participants were still receiving their hypertension treatments. After a median total of 8.8 years for the combined studies, the protective effect of the discontinued intensive treatment was no longer observed. In a subgroup of participants examined, average systolic blood pressure increased from 132.8 mmHg at 5 years to 140.4 mmHg 10 years after the beginning of the original study.
Authors Byron C. Jaeger and colleagues remarked that the protection associated with intensive treatment quickly diminished after the treatment was discontinued. “While intensive treatment produced beneficial effects on mortality during the trial, there was no evidence that this produced sustained benefits on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality subsequent to discontinuing the intervention protocol,” they concluded. “These results suggest that maintaining more intensive blood pressure targets throughout adulthood will likely be essential for long-term cardiovascular disease risk management.”
—D Dye
Greater intake of omega-3 fatty acid linked to longer telomeres
October 19 2022. An article published on September 20, 2022, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed an association between higher intake of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and longer telomeres, which are genetic regions that cap the ends of the cells’ chromosomes. Telomeres shorten during aging, which has been associated with an increased risk of premature mortality as well as mortality from cardiovascular disease and other disorders.
October 19 2022. An article published on September 20, 2022, in the “High levels of inflammation and oxidative stress accelerate telomere shortening, which in turn results in premature aging,” Bojung Seo of Indiana University and colleagues wrote. “However, it may be possible to promote telomere stability through improving dietary habits.”
The study included 2,494 men aged 40 to 75 years who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which began enrolling participants in 1986. White blood cell (leukocyte) telomere length measurements were obtained from blood samples collected between 1993 and 1995. Dietary questionnaires completed by the participants provided information concerning the intake of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and the omega-3 sources tuna and dark meat fish.
The age of men whose telomere length was among the shortest 25% of participants averaged 66.3 years, while men whose telomere length was among the longest 25% had an average age of 62.7 years. Among men whose DHA intake was among the highest 25%, significantly longer telomeres were observed in comparison with men whose intake was among the lowest 25%. Canned tuna intake was also associated with increased telomere length. Greater marine omega-3 fatty acid intake (EPA plus DHA) was marginally associated with longer telomeres.
“Our results suggest that higher intakes of DHA and canned tuna consumption are associated with longer leukocyte telomere length,” Seo and colleagues concluded. “Interventional studies with DHA supplementation are warranted to verify causality.”
—D Dye
Aronia berry supplementation supports gut, arterial health
October 17 2022. The November 2022 issue of Clinical Nutrition reported findings from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that uncovered a benefit for supplementation with aronia berry among men and women with prehypertension.
October 17 2022. The November 2022 issue of “Aronia melanocarpa, or black chokeberry, has gained increased attention for its high content of (poly)phenols, and potential protection against chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” authors Melanie Le Sayec of King’s College London and colleagues remarked.
The trial included 102 participants between the ages of 40 and 70 years who received aronia berry extract capsules that contained 106 milligrams total polyphenols or identical placebo capsules for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, arterial function, gut microbiome composition and other factors were assessed before and after the treatment period.
At the end of the study, augmentation index and pulse wave velocity, which measure arterial stiffness, significantly improved among participants who received aronia in comparison with the placebo group. The aronia-supplemented group also had a significant increase in microbiome species richness and abundance of species that produce butyrate, a compound that has a favorable effect in gut health.
The researchers observed associations between plasma and urinary aronia-derived polyphenol metabolites, decreased arterial stiffness and various gut flora species. “To our knowledge, this is the first time these species are shown to correlate with beneficial effects on arterial function,” they announced.
“The present findings suggest that daily consumption of aronia berry extract led to improvements in arterial function in healthy middle-aged people, with a concomitant and related increase in potentially health-promoting bacterial taxa,” the authors concluded. “Future work should be conducted to investigated whether aronia supplementation may be effective in other at-risk populations such as hypertensives or people with cardiovascular disease risk.”
—D Dye
Meta-analysis affirms association between CoQ10 and lower blood pressure
October 14 2022. Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials that examined the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) revealed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure in association with CoQ10.
October 14 2022. Results from a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials that examined the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) revealed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure in association with CoQ10. High blood pressure is a modifiable risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases that include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, unhealthy lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides) and obesity. Although the body makes some CoQ10, evidence exists that deficiency plays a role in cardiometabolic disorders.
For the meta-analysis, Dan Zhao and colleagues identified 26 randomized, controlled trials that included a total of 1,831 patients with cardiometabolic diseases. Study duration ranged from 1–24 months.
The meta-analysis found a 4.77 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 1.62 microgram per milliliter increase in plasma or serum CoQ10 levels in association with CoQ10 compared to the control group. The effects of CoQ10 were greater among participants with diabetes and unhealthy lipids, and in studies that lasted at least 12 weeks. A dose of 100–200 mg CoQ10 was associated with the greatest benefit.
The authors suggested that the superior benefit for CoQ10 observed in patients with unhealthy lipids may be due to decreased CoQ10 levels that may occur during treatment with drugs prescribed to treat high cholesterol, which are corrected by the rise in circulating CoQ10.
They noted that one of CoQ10’s important mechanisms is its antioxidant property, which can counteract the decrease in nitric oxide availability caused by oxidative stress. Nitric oxide relaxes the blood vessels, thus helping to normalize blood pressure.
The findings were published in the November 2022 issue of Advances in Nutrition.
—D Dye
Study offers real-world evidence of vitamin D’s protective effects
October 12 2022. A study reported October 8, 2022, in the Journal of Internal Medicine provides “real-world” evidence of the benefits of vitamin D supplementation.
October 12 2022. A study reported October 8, 2022, in the “Given the increasing importance of real-world evidence in determining the drug effectiveness outside of the strictly defined and controlled situations of randomized controlled trials, it is of great interest how the efficacy data of vitamin D3 supplementation obtained from well-defined and well-controlled clinical trial populations translate into effectiveness in real-world practice,” the authors remarked. “The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether the intake of vitamin D supplements (in the form of a vitamin D preparation or as part of a multivitamin product) is associated with reduced all-cause and cause-specific mortality including cancer mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality and respiratory disease mortality in the large UK Biobank, a nationwide, population-based cohort from the United Kingdom.”
The researchers analyzed information from 445,601 UK Biobank participants. Regular vitamin D supplement use was reported by 4.3% of the participants and multivitamin use was reported by 20.4%.
Vitamin D and multivitamin supplement users had higher median 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels than nonusers. Multivitamin users experienced a 74% reduction in the risk of vitamin D deficiency and users of over-the-counter vitamin D supplements had an 84% lower risk.
During the 11.8-year median follow-up, individuals who used multivitamins had a 5% lower risk of mortality and those who used vitamin D had a 10% lower risk compared to nonusers. Regular vitamin D use was associated with 11% lower risk of dying from cancer and a 29% lower risk of mortality from respiratory disease.
“This large study suggests that in the real world, the efficacy of vitamin D supplements in reducing mortality may be at least as good as observed in randomized clinical trials,” the authors concluded.
—D Dye
Resveratrol supplementation linked to better blood lipids
October 10 2022. A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials published on September 11, 2022, in the journal Nutrients found an association between lower lipids and supplementing with resveratrol, a nonflavonoid polyphenol compound found in grapes, knotweed and other plants.
October 10 2022. A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials published on September 11, 2022, in the journal Disordered lipids are a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Side effects associated with drugs commonly prescribed to treat unhealthy lipids have led many patients to seek alternatives.
Researchers at Southeast University in Nanjing, China identified 17 trials that included a total of 968 men and women for their meta-analysis. Resveratrol doses ranged from 10 to 3,000 milligrams per day administered from 4 to 48 weeks.
The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between resveratrol supplementation and reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The reduction in LDL cholesterol associated with resveratrol was significantly greater in trials of at least 12 weeks duration, trials that administered dosages of 500 milligrams resveratrol per day or more and among people with type 2 diabetes. The researchers did not find an association between supplementing with resveratrol and “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
Authors Xinyi Cao and colleagues listed pathways involving triglyceride metabolism and fat accumulation in tissues, fatty acid uptake from circulating triglycerides, new fat cell formation and fat breakdown, and fatty acid oxidation as regulators of total cholesterol and triglycerides by resveratrol.
“This meta-analysis indicated that the supplementation of resveratrol could significantly affect the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, but not the level of HDL-cholesterol,” they concluded. “Findings from this meta-analysis could be helpful for providing suggestions for the use of resveratrol as nutraceutical.”
—D Dye
Higher midlife omega-3 may mean better brain
October 7 2022. The December 6, 2022, issue of Neurology® published findings from a study that suggest a brain benefit for consuming a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids at midlife. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish and omega-3 supplements.
October 7 2022. The December 6, 2022, issue of The study included 2,183 men and women of an average age of 46 years with no history of stroke or dementia. Blood samples were assessed for red blood cell omega-3 fatty acid levels. Cognitive function testing evaluated episodic memory, processing speed, executive function and abstract reasoning. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure the volume of the hippocampus (an area of the brain involved in memory and learning) and other areas.
The researchers categorized participants whose omega-3 fatty acids comprised an average of 3.4% of their total fatty acid levels as having low levels, while participants whose omega-3 averaged 5.2% of total fatty acids were classified as having high levels. (Optimal levels are 8% or more.) After adjusting for several factors, participants who had a high percentage of omega-3 had better abstract reasoning scores and greater hippocampal volumes than those with lower levels.
“Improving our diet is one way to promote our brain health,” noted first author Claudia L. Satizabal, PhD, of the University of Texas Health Science Center. “If people could improve their cognitive resilience and potentially ward off dementia with some simple changes to their diet, that could have a large impact on public health. Even better, our study suggests that even modest consumption of omega-3 may be enough to preserve brain function. This is in line with the current American Heart Association dietary guidelines to consume at least two servings of fish per week to improve cardiovascular health.”
“It’s exciting that omega-3 levels could play a role in improving cognitive resilience, even in middle-aged people,” she added.
—D Dye
Vitamins associated with lower glaucoma risk
October 5 2022. A study presented at AAO 2022, the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology held in Chicago, found an association between greater intake of three antioxidant vitamins and a lower risk of glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause optic nerve damage resulting in progressive vision loss.
October 5 2022. A study presented at AAO 2022, the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology held in Chicago, found an association between greater intake of three antioxidant vitamins and a lower risk of glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can cause optic nerve damage resulting in progressive vision loss. The SUN Project at Spain’s University of Navarra included participants who completed questionnaires every other year that provided information concerning food and supplement intake and other factors. During a 12-year average follow-up, 266 new cases of glaucoma occurred among a total of 18,669 participants.
Researchers Alejandro Fernandez-Montero, MD, PhD, of Universidad de Navarra and colleagues determined that participants who consumed high amounts of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E during follow-up had an adjusted 27% lower risk of developing glaucoma in comparison with those who consumed low amounts. The protective effect was observed only when all three vitamins were consumed.
“Higher antioxidant vitamin consumption was significantly associated with lower risk of developing glaucoma,” the authors concluded. “Antioxidant vitamins could be a protective factor for glaucoma incidence.”
“With my colleague Dr Moreno-Montañés, we have performed several studies in the past regarding how leading healthy lifestyles, eating a Mediterranean diet, smoking or exercising relates to glaucoma, and I hope these new findings on vitamins inspire more thought on prevention,” Dr Fernandez-Montero commented. “I believe that it is important for ophthalmologists to focus on prevention work just as much as they do on advancing treatments.”
—D Dye
Omega-3 may helpful for attention, impulse control in adolescents
October 3 2022. Research findings reported on August 12, 2022, in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry revealed that higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were respectively associated with better test scores for attention and impulsiveness among adolescent boys and girls compared with adolescents who had lower levels.
October 3 2022. Research findings reported on August 12, 2022, in “Polyunsaturated fatty acids are critical for brain development and function, and their deficiency may have long-term functional consequences” authors Ariadna Pinar-Marti and colleagues explained.
"Despite the established importance of DHA in brain development, few studies have evaluated whether it plays a role in the attention performance of healthy adolescents," commented study coordinator Jordi Júlvez, PhD. "In addition, the possible role of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), another omega-3 but of plant origin, has not been as extensively studied."
The investigation included 372 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 16 years among whom blood samples were assessed for red blood cell omega-3 fatty acids as an indicator of long-term dietary intake. Participants were evaluated for selective and sustained attention, conflict response, impulsivity and other measures of attention.
In comparison with adolescents whose DHA levels were among the lowest one-third of participants, those whose levels were among the top third showed better attention performance as indicated by scores for reaction time and conflict response. Higher ALA levels were associated with less impulsivity. "The role of ALA in attention control is still unclear, but this finding may be clinically relevant, as impulsivity is a feature of several psychiatric conditions, such as ADHD," Dr Pinar-Martí noted.
"Our study indicates that dietary DHA most likely plays a role in attention-requiring tasks, but further studies are needed to confirm a cause-effect, as well as to understand the role of ALA," Dr Júlvez concluded.
—D Dye
