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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.

Antioxidants improve short-term mortality risk in sepsis patients

April 29 2024. Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis reported in the April 30, 2024, issue of the Cell journal Heliyon revealed that the administration of antioxidants was associated with improved short-term survival among men and women with sepsis, a complication of infection that results in body-wide inflammation.

"In severe patients with sepsis or septic shock, oxidative stress is an important risk factor for multiple organ dysfunction and disease progression," authors Hui Pei and colleagues at The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University wrote.

Sixty studies of sepsis patients were included in the review, including 35 randomized, controlled trials. Evaluated antioxidants included thiamin, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), N-acetylcysteine, selenium, or a combination of hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid and thiamine (HAT therapy).

Analysis of studies that examined in-hospital mortality found a 19% reduction among patients who received antioxidant therapy as well as a 19% lower risk of 28-day mortality in comparison with standard care. When separate therapies were analyzed, thiamin was associated with a 36% lower risk and ascorbic acid was associated with a 34% lower risk of in-hospital mortality. Ascorbic acid alone was additionally associated with a 57% reduction in 28-day mortality.

A mixed short-term randomized controlled trial analysis found a 22% lower risk among antioxidant-treated patients and a 43% lower risk among those treated with vitamin C.

"According to current data of randomized clinical trials, antioxidant therapy, especially ascorbic acid, has a trend of improving short-term mortality in patients with sepsis, but the evidence remains to be further demonstrated," the authors concluded.

"In the future, with the study of HAT therapy and the application of more antioxidants (such as melatonin, zinc-selenium mixture, glutathione, lipoic acid, etc.) to patients with sepsis, with the gradual advancement of clinical research, guidelines for the management of sepsis will give clear recommendations for antioxidant therapy."

—D Dye

Vitamin D supports immunity against cancer

April 26 2024. An article titled, "Vitamin D regulates microbiome-dependent cancer immunity," published April 25, 2024, in the journal Science, reported that vitamin D supports the growth of the intestinal bacterium Bacteroides fragilis in mice, which improved immunity to cancer.

Bacteroides fragilis is also part of the human microbiome. It has been observed that the composition of the gut microbiome in people with cancer who respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies differs from that of nonresponsive patients.

Among numerous findings revealed by the current research, mice that were bred to have greater vitamin D availability showed improved immune-dependent resistance to transplanted cancerous cells, which resulted in less tumor growth. These animals additionally showed greater responses to immunotherapies. Cohoused mice that were not genetically modified were also more resistant to tumors, which suggested involvement of microbiota. The research team discovered that vitamin D acts directly on intestinal epithelial cells to encourage the growth of the gut bacteria Bacteroides fragilis. "What we've shown here came as a surprise – vitamin D can regulate the gut microbiome to favor a type of bacteria which gives mice better immunity to cancer," senior author Caetano Reis e Sousa of the Francis Crick Institute remarked.

"A key question we are currently trying to answer is how exactly vitamin D supports a 'good' microbiome," added first author Evangelos Giampazolias, PhD. "If we can answer this, we might uncover new ways in which the microbiome influences the immune system, potentially offering exciting possibilities in preventing or treating cancer."

"Our findings indicate a previously unappreciated connection between vitamin D, microbial commensal communities, and immune responses to cancer," Dr Giampazolias and colleagues concluded. "Collectively, they highlight vitamin D levels as a potential determinant of cancer immunity and immunotherapy success."

—D Dye

Vitamin D, omega-3 associated with less fatigue and disability in MS patients

April 24 2024. Research reported April 8, 2024 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders revealed a protective association for omega-3, vitamin D and better diet quality against the progression of disability and fatigue among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The study also uncovered an increase in fatigue and disability among patients who consumed more meat and dairy products.

The investigation included 839 participants in the Health Outcomes and Lifestyle In a Sample of people with MS (HOLISM) prospective study. Participants completed surveys concerning clinical and health outcomes at enrollment in 2012 and at 2.5-year intervals. Dietary Habits Questionnaire responses were scored for diet quality.

Evaluation of survey responses identified a low five-year fatigue trajectory in 58.4% of the subjects and a high fatigue trajectory among 41.6%. A low disability trajectory was identified among 85.4% and the remaining 14.6% were assigned to a high trajectory group characterized by increased probability of severe disability.

Compared with the low fatigue trajectory group, a lower percentage of those in the high fatigue trajectory group had high Dietary Habits Questionnaire scores and fewer reported using vitamin D or fish oil (a source of omega-3 fatty acids). Meat and dairy product consumption was greater in the high trajectory group. Similar patterns were observed in the high disability trajectory group.

Fish oil users had a 9% lower risk of categorization in the high fatigue trajectory and an 8% lower risk of in the high disability trajectory. The use of vitamin D was associated with a 6% lower risk of the high-fatigue trajectory classification.

"Dietary modifications appear to contribute to better long-term health outcomes in people with MS, thus should be discussed and recommended in MS care management," authors Xin Lin of the University of Melbourne and colleagues concluded.

—D Dye

Tocotrienols may help protect against cognitive decline associated with obesity

April 19 2024. Preclinical research findings reported March 21, 2024, in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences revealed a potential role for tocotrienols, which are antioxidant compounds belonging to the vitamin E family, in the prevention of obesity-associated cognitive decline.

Commenting on the study, first author Yugo Kato of Tottori University in Japan stated, "Our goal is to combat obesity-related diseases using natural compounds and thereby reduce the prevalence of conditions like dementia among individuals affected by obesity."

The study utilized a strain of mice that are susceptible to diet-induced obesity. The animals were fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet or a normal control diet beginning at four weeks of age. Some of the mice in both diet groups were also given tocotrienols, which research has identified as having antiobesity and brain-protective properties.

While all the animals gained weight during the eight-week study, those that received the high-fat, high-sugar diet gained the most weight and had greater fat weight, cholesterol and glucose than the control diet-fed animals. The Morris Water Maze test of cognitive function revealed the lowest learning ability among high-fat, high-sugar-fed mice, while the addition of tocotrienols resulted in improved ability.

The brains of the high-fat, high-sugar diet-fed animals showed accelerated protein oxidation; however, no significant differences were found between mice that received the high-fat, high-sugar diet plus tocotrienols and control mice that received tocotrienols. Twelve brain cortex proteins in mice that received high-fat, high-sugar diets were differently expressed than the control animals; however, tocotrienols protected against this change.

"This study revealed that high-fat, high-sugar-induced obesity leads to a decline in learning ability as measured by the Morris water maze test, and treatment with tocotrienols suppresses high-fat, high-sugar-induced cognitive changes," the authors concluded. "One reason for the high-fat, high-sugar-induced cognitive decline was revealed to be enhanced oxidation in the brain."

—D Dye

Higher vitamin D levels associated with less obesity among US adults of Asian ethnicity

April 19 2024. On April 16, 2024, the journal Public Library of Science One (PLOS One) reported the results of an analysis of Asian-Americans that revealed a correlation between deficient serum vitamin D levels and obesity.

The study included 2,664 non-Hispanic Asian men and women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2018. Obesity was defined as a body mass index greater than 27.5. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of less than 12 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) were classified as deficient.

Vitamin D levels averaged 23.74 ng/mL among obese Asian adults and 25.56 ng/mL among those who were not obese. After controlling for several factors, individuals who were obese had a 2.318 times greater risk of being deficient in vitamin D than those who were not obese. The association was significant among obese men, whose risk of vitamin D deficiency was 2.713 times greater that nonobese men. Men also had an association between lower vitamin D levels and an increase in waist circumference, which was more pronounced in men who were obese. In their discussion of the findings, authors Linjie Qiu and colleagues at China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences noted that Asians have a higher tendency to deposit fat in their internal organs than Europeans and that men are likelier than women to have abdominal obesity. Having a high waist circumference is among the factors that characterize metabolic syndrome, a cluster of signs that increase the risk of diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease.

"This research discovered a link between vitamin D and obesity in non-Hispanic Asian populations," they concluded. "The findings highlight a significant negative association between waist circumference and vitamin D, particularly among obese males."

—D Dye

Melatonin helps prevent weight gain in preclinical research

April 17 2024. Findings from a study reported in the March 2024 issue of Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy indicated that melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep, may be helpful in the prevention of obesity.

The study included 32 six-week-old rats that were bred to develop obesity and diabetes and 32 lean rats of the same age. Researchers at the University of Granada in Spain gave 16 obese rats and 16 lean rats drinking water enhanced with melatonin while the remaining animals received regular drinking water for 12 weeks.

Obese rats that received melatonin gained less weight and had less visceral fat (central obesity) compared with obese untreated animals at the end of the 12-week period. Melatonin-treated rats also had less obesity-induced muscle fiber atrophy and showed increased mitochondrial activity, which may contribute to the decrease in weight gain observed in these animals. Additional research showed that melatonin increased a thermogenic response to cold exposure, which helps burn fat.

"During the day, it is good to expose yourself to natural light, do adequate physical activity, choose low-calorie diets loaded with unprocessed foods and replace these additives with thermogenic spices and herbs, avoid eating between meals, do not wear insulating clothing and keep the heating at a comfortable and cool temperature of around 17⁰ C, as well as showering with cool water," senior author Ahmad Agil of the University of Granada School of Medicine recommended.

"The encouraging indicators obtained in preclinical models invite [us] to take melatonin to the next phase, in order to investigate how it helps in the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis and, to a greater extent, if melatonin therapy would allow to delay or stop obesity and its complications, by boosting its chronic pharmacological use," he added.

—D Dye

Micronutrient intake among U.S. adults has changed little over 15 years

April 15 2024. A report published February 17, 2024, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that, despite recommendations, significant percentages of U.S. adults are consuming less than the estimated average requirement (EAR) of many vitamins and minerals. The findings are the result of a study that compared the micronutrient intake of 39,925 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2018. "To our knowledge, no study has examined temporal changes in total micronutrient intake over a 15-y time span and how intake changes over time have altered meeting nutrient recommendations," Marjorie R. Freedman and colleagues announced.

Freedman and her associates analyzed changes in nutrient intake as reported by NHANES participants during 2003–2004; 2005–2006; 2007–2008; 2009–2010; 2011–2012; 2013–2014; 2015–2016 and 2017–2018. Evaluated nutrients included those with established EARs or Adequate intake. In addition to participating in interviews that obtained information concerning food and beverage intake, the participants completed questionnaires concerning the use of vitamins, minerals and botanicals.

During the 15-year period, vitamins A, C, D, E and K; choline, calcium, magnesium and potassium were underconsumed. A deficit persisted even among those who reported adding vitamins and minerals to their diets.

For men, the percentage of thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin C, copper, iron and zinc intake that was below the EAR significantly increased during this period. However, when vitamins and minerals added to the diet were included, the percentage of intake below the EAR for vitamins D and E decreased, although percentage below the EAR for other nutrients increased. Among women, percentages of vitamin C and zinc below the EAR from the diet or diet plus added vitamins and minerals increased. When intake from the diet plus added nutrients was analyzed, women experienced a decrease in the percentage below the EAR for vitamins A and E.

"Although some progress has been made, nutrient intake and percentage of the population meeting nutritional recommendations among United States adults has changed little over the 15 years studied," the authors concluded.

—D Dye

Exercise lowers aging-associated lipids

April 12 2024. Research reported April 12, 2024, in Nature Aging found that a type of lipid is elevated in the tissue of older animals and humans and that exercise, which has often been called "the fountain of youth," reduces it.

"Lipids are an important part of our diet, and crucial for the functioning of our body cells," corresponding author Riekelt Houtkooper of Amsterdam University Medical Center explained. "Specific lipids make up the membrane of cells, which ensures that the inside and outside remain separate."

The lipids that were found to be elevated in the study are known as bis(monoacylglycero)phosphates (BMPs). Upon analyzing more than 1,200 lipids, Dr Houtkooper and colleagues found elevated BMPs in muscles, kidneys, liver, heart and six other tissues in mice and in muscle biopsies obtained from older humans.

The research team subsequently assigned a group of postmenopausal women to a daily exercise program. Muscle tissue biopsied before and after the intervention revealed a reduction in BMP levels at the end of the four-day intervention.

"These results are an important new step for our understanding of the aging process, but they are certainly not the final answer," Dr Houtkooper noted. "We plan to conduct follow-up studies to better understand how BMPs contribute to aging, what are the consequences of BMP accumulation on the aging process, and whether this can only be influenced by exercise or are there other ways to affect BMPs levels."

"Everyone says that 'it's just part of getting older,' but this doesn't actually have to be true," added first author Georges E. Janssens who is an assistant professor at Amsterdam University Medical Center. "By understanding more about the aging process, we can also look into new ways of intervening."

—D Dye

Probiotics improve cognitive function in schizophrenia patients

April 10 2024. Findings from a trial published April 10, 2024, in Neuropsychopharmacology Reports revealed a cognitive benefit for probiotics plus vitamin D in adults with schizophrenia, one of the most common psychiatric disorders, which is among the top 25 causes of disability worldwide.

The trial included 70 men and women among whom half received a placebo and the remainder received 400 IU vitamin D plus the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium longum and Bacillus coagulans. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) respectively evaluated disease severity and cognitive function before, after, and every 2 weeks during the 12-week treatment period. Gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated weekly. Body mass index (BMI), lipids, fasting blood glucose, and inflammation markers serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured at the beginning and end of the study.

MoCa scores improved and the percentage of those with high scores significantly increased among the group that received probiotics in comparison with the placebo. PANSS scores also improved in the probiotic treatment group, although the difference was not significant when compared with those who received a placebo. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol and CRP levels decreased significantly among patients who received probiotics while BMI increased in the placebo group. Probiotics were not associated with gastrointestinal symptoms.

A proposed mechanism of action for probiotics in schizophrenia is regulation of the inflammatory response, which is also a function of vitamin D. "Targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis with probiotic and vitamin D might provide a novel approach to promote mental health," authors Aida Mohammadi of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences and colleagues wrote.

"Co-administration of probiotics and vitamin D has beneficial effects on the improvement of cognitive function in schizophrenic patients," they concluded.

—D Dye

Prostate cancer screening results in modest reduction of prostate cancer deaths 15 years later

April 08 2024. A study reported April 6, 2024, in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed a small protective effect for a single invitation for prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening against the risk of dying from prostate cancer 15 years later.

Prostate specific antigen, when elevated, can be a marker of prostate cancer and suggests a need for further evaluation.

The current study was a secondary analysis of The Cluster Randomized Trial of PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer conducted in the UK, which compared screening for prostate cancer with usual care that did not involve screening. Participants enrolled between January 2002 and January 2009, and were followed through March 2021. An invitation for PSA screening was received by 195,912 men while 219,445 men served as a control group. Men whose PSA levels were 3.0 nanograms per milliliter or higher received diagnostic testing for prostate cancer. A low percentage of men who were not invited to receive prostate cancer screening underwent PSA testing during follow-up, which is consistent with the UK policy that recommends against screening.

After a median 15-years of follow-up, prostate cancer diagnoses were received by 12,013 men who received an invitation for PSA screening and 12,958 men who did not. Death from prostate cancer occurred among 1,199 men who were invited to screen for prostate cancer and 1,451 men who did not receive an invitation, resulting in a 7.08% 15-year risk in tested men compared with a 6.94% risk among the controls.

"In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, a single invitation for PSA screening compared with standard practice without routine screening reduced prostate cancer deaths at a median follow-up of 15 years," the authors concluded. "However, the absolute reduction in deaths was small."

—D Dye

Antioxidant combination supports cognition, muscle

April 05 2024. A study reported February 28, 2024, in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that a blend of antioxidant nutrients improved short-term memory, spatial cognition and muscle durability in old mice.

"Oxidative stress is involved in many aging-related diseases," Koji Fukui of the Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan and colleagues wrote. "Redox balance in the body is maintained through the action of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. These enzymes alone are not sufficient, so antioxidants must be taken in through the diet to provide adequate protection from oxidation."

Dr Fukui's team gave 18-month-old mice free access to water enhanced with antioxidants and provided another group of same-aged mice with normal filtered water for one month. The antioxidants consisted of riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, L-cystine, L-glutamine, fumaric acid, succinic acid and coenzyme Q10. (Fumaric acid occurs in some fruits and succinic acid exists in most plant and animal tissues.) Food and water intake did not significantly differ between the groups.

Spatial cognitive ability, coordination skills, short-term memory, exploratory behavior, running distance and endurance were assessed before and after the treatment period. Mice that received antioxidants had better short-term memory and spatial cognition. They also exhibited a greater rate of increase in running distance compared with mice that did not receive the nutrients, which indicates better muscle endurance. "Frailty and sarcopenia are now serious problems and potent risk factors for dementia," Dr Fukui noted.

"Long term intake of blended antioxidant supplements may be effective, even considering the effects of aging and related increased oxidation in the body," he concluded. Dr Fukui predicted that formulas containing ingredients tailored to each individual will be a future reality for humans.

—D Dye

PEA boosts cognitive function

April 03 2024. Trial findings reported February 8, 2024, in Nutrients revealed improvement in cognitive function and serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor among university students who received palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endocannabinoid-like compound produced in the body that is found in foods such as soybeans, peanut oil and egg yolk. PEA has been used for chronic pain and to support a healthy inflammatory response.

The randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial included 39 men and women of an average age of 22 years. Participants received capsules containing a total of 600 milligrams PEA or a placebo daily for six weeks followed by a six-week washout period during which no capsules were received. This was followed by another six-week period in which PEA and the placebo were switched. Before and after each treatment period, blood samples were analyzed for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein needed for the maintenance of neuron function that is associated with memory, learning and cognitive function. Cognitive function assessments that evaluated attention and psychomotor speed, memory and executive function were administered at these time points.

Memory test scores improved from scores obtained at the beginning of the treatment period in the participants who received PEA while remaining unchanged among those who received a placebo. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor increased following treatment with PEA.

Authors Nadia Kim of the University of Westminster in London and colleagues announced that the study was the first to report that "Formulated PEA significantly enhanced circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor and improved memory in a healthy adult population. These findings also allude to a correlation between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and memory, suggesting that PEA may potentially mediate its cognitive-enhancing properties by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels."

"This suggests that formulated PEA holds promise as an innovative and practical intervention for cognitive health enhancement," they concluded.

—D Dye

It’s true: healthy eating does result in longer life

April 01 2024. An article published in the March 2024 issue of Advances in Nutrition revealed a reduction in the risk of mortality during up to 36 years of follow-up among men and women with greater adherence to the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015.

Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores are based on the intake of total fruits, whole fruits, total vegetables, greens and beans, whole grains, dairy, total protein foods, seafood, plant proteins and fatty acids, as well as foods that should only be consumed in moderation, including refined grains, sodium, added sugars and saturated fats. The Index was created to measure alignment with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The meta-analysis included 20 articles that provided Healthy Eating Index-2015 data for a total of 1,065,175 participants who were followed from 797 days to 36 years. Among individuals whose Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores were higher, there was a 20% lower risk of mortality from all causes during follow-up in comparison with participants whose scores were lower. When mortality from cancer and cardiovascular disease were examined, participants with higher scores had a 19% lower risk compared with lower scores.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first dose–response meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive assessment to the relationship between the HEI-2015 and all-cause, cardiovascular disease-cause, and cancer-cause mortality, which supports that the Dietary Guidelines of America recommendations to improve dietary quality might lead to a longer life expectancy," Xuanyu Hao and Dongyang Li of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University announced.

"The possible biological mechanisms underlying a healthy diet's role in reducing mortality remain unclear; however, some studies have found that healthy diets may decrease systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, two factors which play a critical role in the development of chronic diseases."

—D Dye

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