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.

• Curcuma-based product use associated with lower macular degeneration risk
• Vitamin D may boost total testosterone
• Beta-glucan lowers insulin resistance in people with diabetes
• Study suggests soy compound may help delay Alzheimer's disease
• Daily life improvements in older adults who used multivitamins
• Nutraceuticals boost ED therapies
• Aged black garlic could help protect against or slow the growth of prostate cancer
• Vitamin D signaling pattern within prostate tumors linked with improved survival
• Higher brain magnesium in older animals supports youthful synaptic connectivity
• Zinc may protect against antimicrobial resistance
• Milk thistle compound shows promise as cancer therapy
• Hibiscus, lemon verbena combo supports weight management

 

Curcuma-based product use associated with lower macular degeneration risk

October 30 2024. A large retrospective study reported October 24, 2024, in JAMA Ophthalmology uncovered an association between the use of nutritional products derived from Curcuma longa (the source of the compound curcumin) and a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration.

The study was conducted by examining electronic health records from January 2003–June 2024 which revealed that Curcuma-based products were prescribed for 66,804 men and women and 1,809,440 individuals were not prescribed the nutrient.

Average follow-up was 1,501 days among those who used Curcuma-based products and 1,540 days among those who did not. Among those aged 50 years and older without a history of AMD who had three instances of a Curcuma-based prescription, the risk of dry AMD was 77% lower, advanced dry AMD was 89% lower, wet AMD was 72% lower, blindness was 54% lower and the need for injectable therapy was 85% lower than matched patients who had not been prescribed Curcuma-based products. When patients who had early dry AMD were separately evaluated, those who had subsequently been prescribed Curcuma-based products had a 42% lower risk of developing advanced dry AMD compared with those with early dry AMD who had not been prescribed the nutrient.

"Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of legal blindness in older patients has had genetic predisposition, oxidative damage, and chronic inflammation implicated in the pathophysiology of both nonexudative (dry) and exudative (wet) forms of the disease," Amer F. Alsoudi, MD, and colleagues explained. They noted that curcumin has an antioxidant effect and supports a healthy inflammatory response.

In light of a recent report of an association between melatonin use and a lower risk of macular degeneration, Brian L. VanderBeek, MD, MPH, commented in JAMA Opthalmology that the findings "have provided exciting new clinical evidence for a disease lacking effective preventive measures."

 

—D Dye

 

Vitamin D may boost total testosterone

October 28 2024. A meta-analysis reported September 25, 2024, in the journal Diseases found an association between the addition of vitamin D to a nutritional regimen and an increase in total testosterone in men.

While women produce testosterone in smaller amounts, it is the predominant reproductive hormone in men. "The expression of vitamin D receptors (VDRs) and vitamin D-metabolizing enzymes (VDMEs) in the testes, male reproductive system, and human sperm indicates that vitamin D is likely important for male reproductive functions, including spermatogenesis and the maturation of human sperm," Ahmed Abu-Zaid of Alfaisal University and colleagues wrote.

The review included 17 randomized, controlled trials that enrolled a total of 1,774 men aged 20 to 72 years. Vitamin D doses used in the trials ranged from 580 to 8500 international units (IU) per day given for 8 to 96 weeks. The trials evaluated total testosterone, free testosterone and other hormones among healthy men or men with low testosterone, infertility, vitamin D deficiency, heart failure, or Klinefelter Syndrome, or among those who were athletes, physically active or overweight.

Analysis of the trials supported a significant association between vitamin D and an increase in total testosterone levels. Further analysis determined that vitamin D's association with total testosterone was significant if vitamin D was used by the trial participants for more than 12 weeks and at a dose of over 4,000 IU per day.

Total testosterone is a measure of free plus bound forms of testosterone. "Vitamin D supplementation may influence total testosterone levels through mechanisms that increase the overall production of testosterone by the testes," Abu-Zaid and associates wrote. "This increase, however, does not necessarily translate to a significant change in free testosterone levels."

"Larger, well-powered randomized, controlled trials are necessary to confirm the impacts of vitamin D on testosterone and other reproductive hormones in diverse male populations."

 

—D Dye

 

Beta-glucan lowers insulin resistance in people with diabetes

October 25 2024. Findings from a randomized exploratory study published October 23, 2024, in the British Journal of Nutrition revealed improvement in insulin resistance and a reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa, a marker of inflammation) among people with type 2 diabetes who received yeast beta-glucan compared with a placebo group.

Beta-glucans are a type of fiber that occurs in plants, fungi (mushrooms), algae and bacteria. Beta-glucans have been found to improve immune function, decrease cholesterol levels and help regulate glucose metabolism.

The study included 18 men and women who received 2.5 grams of Wellmune beta-glucan and 15 participants who received a placebo daily for eight weeks. Stool samples collected at the beginning of the study and at four and eight weeks were analyzed for bile acids, fatty acids and microflora composition. Blood samples collected at these time points were analyzed for markers of inflammation, glucose, insulin, and other values.

At four weeks, participants who received beta-glucan had lower levels of TNFa compared with the placebo; however, there was no difference between the groups at eight weeks. At the end of the study, participants who received beta-glucan had higher levels of seven bile acids (one of which has been shown to regulate glucose homeostasis) and lower insulin resistance than the placebo group. Fecal microbiota and short chain fatty acids (which can reduce insulin resistance) remained unchanged, indicating that beta-glucan can lower insulin resistance independently of these factors.

“Overall, the findings in this study highlight the potential of yeast beta-glucan to be used [as] a treatment to lower insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,” authors Peter Cronin and colleagues concluded. “Further investigations will need to be carried out in order to better understand the dose-response effect of yeast beta-glucan (Wellmune), enabling the optimization of dosage efficacy.”

 

—D Dye

 

Study suggests soy compound may help delay Alzheimer's disease

October 23 2024. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found indicators of a delay in the transition to dementia among men and women with prodromal Alzheimer's disease who were given genistein, a plant estrogen that occurs in soy.

The findings were discussed in a review published October 18, 2024, in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

The prodromal phase of Alzheimer's disease is characterized by mild cognitive impairment that eventually worsens.

"Despite decades of research, effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease remain elusive, highlighting the complex nature of this neurodegenerative disorder," José Viña of the University of Valencia and colleagues wrote. "One crucial aspect that has emerged in recent years is the importance of early detection and intervention in Alzheimer's disease management."

Previous research in mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease revealed that genistein has an antioxidant effect, supported a healthy inflammatory response, decreased programmed cell death and reduced amyloid-beta, a protein that forms plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. In the human trial, participants who had early signs of the disease were given genistein or a placebo for up to one year. PET imaging was used to examine amyloid-beta deposits in the brain and cognitive tests were administered at the beginning and end of the trial. At the trial's conclusion, participants who received genistein performed better on the tests than the placebo group. Amyloid-beta increased in the anterior cingulate gyrus area of the brains of participants who received a placebo but not among the genistein-treated group.

"Accumulating evidence suggests that Alzheimer's disease is a multifactorial disease, influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors," the authors noted. "We report that genistein is able to delay the transition of prodromal Alzheimer's disease to dementia and that it acts via multiple synergistic mechanisms."

 

—D Dye

 

Daily life improvements in older adults who used multivitamins

October 21 2024. An article published October 3, 2024, in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported findings from a randomized, double-blind trial that revealed an association between multivitamin-mineral intake among older adults and improvements in mood, stress and other aspects of living.

The trial included 104 men and 124 women over the age of 70 years. Participants received a multivitamin-mineral or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks. Questionnaires completed before and after the treatment period provided information concerning the participants’ well-being, mood and memory, physical health and activity, social interaction and loneliness, and nutritional intake.

At the end of the study, less prolonged stress reactivity, overall stress reactivity and emotional loneliness were reported by men in the multivitamin-minerals group in comparison with the placebo group. Authors Sarah Docherty and colleagues noted that loneliness can be related to stress and that stress has effects that can lead to worse physical health, which impacts the ability to socialize. This effect can be greater in older adults who are experiencing health challenges.

Among women who received the multivitamin-mineral, greater feelings of friendliness were reported at the end of the trial compared with the placebo group. This may be related to improvement in mood.

Some areas examined in the trial showed no improvements; however, the authors noted that outcomes may take longer than 12 weeks for improvements to be observed, and that randomized, controlled trials lasting more than a year are needed to evaluate the efficacy of adding multivitamin-minerals to the diet.

They remarked that the trial revealed new evidence concerning decreased stress reactivity and loneliness in men as well as greater friendliness in women in association with multivitamin-minerals. “These findings support the exploration of broader functions pertinent to aspects of daily living in older adults,” Docherty and colleagues wrote.

 

—D Dye

 

Nutraceuticals boost ED therapies

October 18 2024. A systematic review and network meta-analysis published September 15, 2024, in The Journal of Sexual Medicine added evidence to the benefit of adding L-arginine, acetyl-L-carnitine and propionyl L-carnitine to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) drugs such as Viagra and Cialis used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).

L-arginine is an amino acid and propionyl L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine are amino acid derivatives. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

A team from Italy reviewed 15 randomized, controlled trials that included a total of 1,000 men with erectile dysfunction. Treatment regimens included propionyl L-carnitine combined with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) and sildenafil (generic Viagra), L-arginine plus tadalafil (generic Cialis), L-arginine alone, sildenafil alone, tadalafil alone or other treatments that included ginseng, folic acid, myo-inositol, Pycnogenol and yohimbine. Erectile dysfunction was assessed using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores. Treatment periods ranged from 4 to up to 24 weeks.

Men who were given a combination of propionyl L-carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine and sildenafil had the greatest improvement in erectile function scores compared with a placebo. This was followed by L-arginine plus tadalafil, sildenafil alone, tadalafil alone and L-arginine alone. Among men with organic ED, which is associated with atherosclerosis or other physical causes, the efficacy of sildenafil was improved by propionyl L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine, while tadalafil was improved by L-arginine. Non-organic ED, which has psychological causes, was not improved by the addition of any nutrients.

 “L-arginine and the mix propionyl L-carnitine + acetyl-L-carnitine appeared to be of some usefulness in improving erectile function, especially in combination with PDE5i in organic ED,” Arcangelo Barbonetti, MD, PhD, of the University of L’Aquila and colleagues concluded. “These results may help select the few molecules worthy of further investigation in future prospective studies.”

 

—D Dye

 

Aged black garlic could help protect against or slow the growth of prostate cancer

October 16 2024. Research findings reported September 7, 2024, in the journal Nutrients suggest promising effects for a water extract of aged black garlic against prostate cancer.

Aged black garlic is made by fermenting fresh garlic at high temperature and humidity for several weeks. In addition to the garlic becoming less pungent, the process increases its concentration of bioactive compounds, including S-allylcysteine.

Acting on the knowledge of the role of inflammation in the development of prostate cancer and on previous findings in mice of an ability of aged black garlic to support a healthy inflammatory response, Raúl M. Luque, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cordoba evaluated the extract's effects on inflammation in mouse prostate tissue specimens. They found that aged black garlic supported a healthy inflammatory response and was associated with reduced gene expression of proinflammatory biomarkers, such as COX-2. "We wanted to know which molecular pathways were affected by use of the compound, and we were able to verify that key signaling pathways in cancer were altered, including those related to inflammation," Dr Luque explained. "The treatment decreases the inflammatory environment that you can see in this type of cancer."

The research team also studied aged black garlic's effects in cultured prostate cancer cells. "We tested the extract in different human prostate cancer cell models and found that it was capable of reducing various tumor aggressiveness parameters, including cell proliferation," researcher Antonio Montero, PhD, reported. "We also found that it did not affect normal prostate cells."

"Everything indicates that this compound could be a very good option to avert some of the adverse events that occur in patients who are going to progress to a more complex and aggressive stage of prostate cancer," he added.

 

—D Dye

 

Vitamin D signaling pattern within prostate tumors linked with improved survival

October 14 2024. The October 2024 issue of Carcinogenesis reported that improved vitamin D signaling by specific genes within cancerous prostate tumors is associated with a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer.

"Maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels has emerged as a potential protective factor against aggressive prostate cancer, based on preclinical research as well as observational and interventional studies in humans," Jane B. Vaselkiv of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and colleagues wrote. "As with other potentially modifiable factors, the strongest associations have been observed for the risk of advanced prostate cancer and prostate cancer death."

The study included prostate tissue specimens from 404 men with prostate cancer who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study or the Physicians' Health Study. After developing scores for vitamin D signaling by genes within the tumors, the researchers compared scores for 119 tumors that progressed to fatal disease during up to three decades of follow-up with scores for 285 tumors that did not metastasize during more than eight years after being diagnosed.

Higher vitamin D gene signaling scores were associated with a lower risk of lethal prostate cancer. Tumors that had gene scores that were among the top 25% had a 54% lower risk of association with lethal prostate cancer compared with scores among the lowest 25%. The association was greatest among men with high predicted plasma vitamin D levels and body mass index.

"This study provides support for the hypothesis that men with prostate cancer who have more active intratumoral vitamin D signaling have better outcomes," the authors concluded. "Together with other lines of evidence, these data suggest that focusing on post-diagnosis survival among patients already diagnosed with cancer could be a promising setting for further interventional studies of vitamin D."

 

—D Dye

 

Higher brain magnesium in older animals supports youthful synaptic connectivity

October 09 2024. Research reported April 22, 2024, in Nature Communications revealed a role for magnesium ions in synaptic transmission, which is the process by which brain cells known as neurons transmit information.

Neurons have projections known as axons that send information, and dendrites, which are branching projections that receive information. Synapses are the area between axons and dendrites in which neurons communicate with one another.

In their article titled, "Intracellular magnesium optimizes transmission efficiency and plasticity of hippocampal synapses by reconfiguring their connectivity," Hang Zhou and colleagues explained that "Synapses at dendritic branches exhibit specific properties for information processing. However, how the synapses are orchestrated to dynamically modify their properties, thus optimizing information processing, remains elusive."

The research team examined dendritic branches in cultured hippocampal cells. (The hippocampus is an area of the brain involved in memory and learning.) They observed variation in the synapses, with extremes that favored information coding related to learning or information storage involved in memory. This was found to be modified by altering magnesium ion levels within the neurons. Older rats that were given magnesium L-threonate to elevate their brain magnesium levels exhibited synaptic configuration that was similar to that of young rats. These animals showed improvement in memory and learning.

"Overall, our findings reveal that the synaptic configuration is a biomarker indicating branch-specific synaptic computations and underscore an important role of intracellular Mg2+, as a crucial regulator of configuration, in maintaining brain health and rejuvenating aging brains," Zhou and associates concluded.

 

—D Dye

 

Zinc may protect against antimicrobial resistance

October 07 2024. Research reported October 3, 2024, in the American Society for Microbiology journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology revealed the addition of zinc to a nutritional regimen may reduce antimicrobial resistance, which accounts for approximately 35,000 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Antimicrobial resistance spreads between microorganisms such as bacteria in the digestive tract via the transfer of genetic material known as plasmids. Virulence genes are also transferred using this process. Melha Mellata, PhD, whose laboratory conducted the research, noted that when bacteria transfer antimicrobial resistance genes, they frequently transfer resistance to more than one drug, resulting in an infection that can be resistant to treatment prior to the administration of antibiotics.

In the current in vitro research, Logan Ott, PhD, and colleagues used a solution that contained crushed zinc tablets purchased in a supermarket. The researchers observed that the administration of the zinc solution reduced plasmid transmission between a strain of bacteria that contained a multidrug-resistant plasmid and a plasmid-free human bacteria strain, compared with bacteria that were not treated with zinc. Increasing amounts of zinc resulted in decreasing plasmid transmission.

Dr Mellata explained that that it is important not to kill gut bacteria, which would disrupt the gut microbiome and negatively impact health. "This is the first time where we've discovered that zinc inhibits the process of plasmid transfer, and at lower concentrations it has minimal effect on bacteria," she announced. "But if we just prevent the plasmid transfer, then we can reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance."

"Sometimes the solution can be just to use the old stuff we already have in our closet," she added. "We just have to make the effort to test it."

 

—D Dye

 

Hibiscus, lemon verbena combo supports weight management

October 04 2024. A trial resulted in significant weight and body fat loss along with a reduction in cholesterol levels among men and women who consumed a high-polyphenol blend of hibiscus and lemon verbena. The findings were reported May 1, 2024, in Applied Sciences.

Previous research had found a weight management benefit for 500 mg of the hibiscus/lemon verbena leaf extracts combination. The current randomized, double-blind trial sought to determine the effectiveness of a 300 mg dose. The trial included 61 overweight individuals. Thirty participants were given 300 mg of hibiscus/lemon verbena extracts, and 31 participants received a placebo daily for 90 days. Satiety, weight, body fat and other factors were assessed before and after the treatment period.

Participants who received hibiscus plus lemon verbena lost 2.8 kilograms, which was an approximate 3.4% loss of body weight, and experienced a significant 1.7% reduction of body fat compared with the beginning of the study. Those who received the combination also lost significantly more weight and fat than the placebo group. Responses to some of the questions concerning satiety after meals revealed significant improvement among those who received the hibiscus/lemon verbena combination when compared with the placebo group. Cholesterol levels decreased by approximately 7% among participants who received hibiscus/lemon verbena in comparison with levels measured prior to treatment.

The authors remarked that hibiscus and lemon verbena modulate AMPK, an enzyme that can help reduce body fat. "The study provides additional supporting evidence on the effect of the product in reducing body weight mainly by targeting visceral body fat, while muscle, bone, and water mass are largely unaffected," they reported.

"Based on the evidence presented here and that observed in previous studies, it can be concluded that a 300 mg daily dose may help reduce appetite and body weight, albeit at a slower rate than the 500 mg dose."

 

—D Dye

 

Milk thistle compound shows promise as cancer therapy

October 02 2024. A report published October 2, 2024, in the American Association for Cancer Research journal Cancer Discovery revealed a potential role for silibinin, a compound derived from silymarin which is an extract of the herb milk thistle, as an additive to cancer immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that prevents malignant cells from blocking the immune system or otherwise enhances the immune system's ability to combat cancer cells.

The current research targeted tumors that have spread to the brain. "Brain metastasis poses a serious clinical problem," explained lead researcher Manuel Valiente, of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre's Brain Metastasis Group. "Patients with advanced brain metastases, that is, those who can already perceive symptoms of metastases, don't respond well to immunotherapy. But even patients who respond well to immunotherapy increasingly relapse, often because of new metastases in the brain."

"We have discovered that certain brain cells called astrocytes act as immunomodulators, that is, they interact with the immune system in the brain, and in cases of brain metastasis they misuse this function because they are being influenced by the tumor," first author Neibla Priego, PhD, also of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, reported. "Pro-tumor astrocytes produce TIMP1, and this protein is involved in disabling the defensive cells that should kill cancer cells."

"TIMP1 is a good biomarker, because it is secreted in significantly higher amounts in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with brain metastases," she added.

"There is a drug called silibinin, which has already been employed on a compassionate use basis, which inhibits the production of the TIMP1 molecule," Dr Valiente stated. "A clinical trial is already underway to test its therapeutic efficacy in brain metastasis. We hope to have the results in 2025."

 

—D Dye

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