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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.

Higher testosterone levels linked with lower diabetes risk among men under 65

May 31 2024. Obese or overweight men younger than 65 years of age who had high levels of testosterone had a reduced risk of developing diabetes compared with men who had lower levels of the hormone, as reported at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston on May 31, 2024.

"A low blood testosterone concentration is an independent risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, and high levels of testosterone appear protective against the development of type 2 diabetes," lead researcher Mahesh Umapathysivam, MBBS, of the University of Adelaide in Australia stated. "We wanted to better understand the relationship between testosterone and type 2 diabetes risk across the range of testosterone levels, and to examine interactions between testosterone and different diabetes risk factors in middle aged and older men."

The study utilized data from 1,315 men between the ages 35 to 85 years. None of the men had diabetes or had received testosterone therapy at the beginning of the study. Assessments conducted at enrollment and after five years included blood testing for levels of testosterone and hemoglobin A1c, a marker of long-term glucose control.

One hundred ten men developed type 2 diabetes within five years of the beginning of the study. Among men under the age of 65 years, having a high testosterone level at recruitment was associated with a 7% lower risk of developing the disease. "This implies that higher testosterone blood concentrations are associated with reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes," Umapathysivam remarked. "In contrast, there were no detectable effects of blood testosterone levels on diabetes risk in men over age 65."

"Maintaining a heathy weight, exercising regularly and avoiding alcohol helps maintain a normal testosterone level in most men and also help prevents type 2 diabetes," he added.

—D Dye

Omega-3 may help improve behavior issue in children and adults

May 29 2024. A meta-analysis of 29 randomized, controlled trials concluded that there was sufficient evidence to support the use of omega-3 fatty acids by adults and children who exhibited aggressive behavior. The findings were reported in the September-October 2024 issue of Aggression and Violent Behavior.

"I think the time has come to implement omega-3 supplementation to reduce aggression, irrespective of whether the setting is the community, the clinic, or the criminal justice system," lead author Adrian Raine of the University of Pennsylvania remarked.

Omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA occur in fish, fish oil and the algae that fish consume. Omega-3 supports the brain, which may improve behavior issues that originate in this organ.

The trials included in the meta-analysis involved a total of 3,918 participants. Over half of the trials involved children.

According to Dr Raine, the meta-analysis findings translate to a 30% reduction in aggression in association with consuming additional omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 was effective against reactive aggression, which occurs in response to provocation, and proactive, planned aggression. Treatment was beneficial across all age groups.

"Omega-3 is not a magic bullet that is going to completely solve the problem of violence in society," Dr Raine stated. "But can it help? Based on these findings, we firmly believe it can, and we should start to act on the new knowledge we have."

"At the very least, parents seeking treatment for an aggressive child should know that in addition to any other treatment that their child receives, an extra portion or two of fish each week could also help," he added.

"We believe the time has come both to execute omega-3 supplementation in practice and also to continue scientifically investigating its longer-term efficacy," Dr Raine and coauthor Lia Brodrick concluded.

—D Dye

Antioxidants show promise against Alzheimer disease

May 24 2024. A special issue of the Journal of Alzheimer Disease published May 21, 2024, reported research findings concerning oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease and how antioxidants may be used to help protect against it.

Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. In addition to the major proposed causes of Alzheimer disease—amyloid beta deposition and tau phosphorylation—the oxidative stress hypothesis posits that the brain becomes dysfunctional when free radicals fail to be adequately neutralized by antioxidant compounds. Research has revealed depletion of the important antioxidant glutathione in the hippocampus region of the brains of people and animals with Alzheimer disease.

Reviews and reports included in the issue highlight studies that support a role for antioxidants in Alzheimer disease protection. A meta-analysis of 17 articles determined a 15% lower risk of developing the disease during 3–23 years of follow-up in association with high intake of dietary and added antioxidants. Another meta-analysis concluded that adding the omega-3s EPA and/or DHA (which have antioxidant properties) to the diet benefits cognition while lowering levels of amyloid-beta-related biomarkers compared with a placebo.

A protective effect for CoQ10 plus high-intensity interval training was observed when administered prior to the induction of Alzheimer disease in rats. In a mouse model of the disease, tocotrienols (a member of the vitamin E family) improved motor and memory deficits compared with untreated animals.

A laboratory study found that a combination of melatonin and the tea compound EGCG was effective against amyloid that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer disease patients.

"I anticipate that the oxidative stress hypothesis will gain its rightful recognition sooner in Alzheimer disease research to guide drug development that will effectively reduce oxidative stress and preserve cognitive function," Pravat K. Mandal concluded in an accompanying editorial.

—D Dye

Green tea shows evidence against periodontitis

May 22 2024. Research that evaluated the effects of green tea against one of the major bacteria that causes periodontitis (inflammation of the gums) found an inhibitory effect in laboratory and human studies. The findings were published May 21, 2024, in Microbiology Spectrum.

A Japanese team evaluated an extract of finely ground green tea (Camellia sinensis) known as matcha. Matcha is made from green tea grown in the absence of most sunlight, which results in leaves that have a chemical composition that differs from that of tea grown using traditional methods.

In laboratory research, the extract inhibited the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is one of the oral bacteria responsible for periodontitis. Catechin compounds EGC and EGCG that occur in green tea were determined to be essential for the inhibition of P. gingivalis growth.

In a study involving 45 periodontitis patients, those who used a mouthwash that contained matcha for one month had lower P. gingivalis levels in their saliva compared with the beginning of the study, while other groups did not experience significant reductions.

"Although the population of P. gingivalis within the periodontal pockets microbiota is small, this keystone bacterium-specific infection can change a normally benign microbiota into a dysbiotic one," authors Ryoma Nakao, DDS, PhD, and colleagues wrote. "Thus, elimination of P. gingivalis in the oral cavity has been at the center of attention for more than three decades in periodontology."

They remarked that associations have been observed between periodontitis and aspiration pneumonia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive disorders, diabetes, preterm birth and rheumatoid arthritis.

"The current study is not the first to show that tea-derived catechins have an antimicrobial effect on P. gingivalis," Dr Nakao and associates noted. "However, our results suggest prophylactic and therapeutic potential for matcha as a multimodal drug for periodontal diseases."

—D Dye

Taurine intake associated with lower risk of metabolic syndrome

May 20 2024. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials revealed reductions in factors that define metabolic syndrome among men and women who were given the amino acid taurine. The findings were published May 16, 2024, in the Nature journal Nutrition & Diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome occurs when people have three of five factors that include increased waist circumference, elevated blood pressure, high fasting blood glucose levels, high triglyceride levels and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Having metabolic syndrome increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Researchers in Taiwan identified 25 trials in which participants were given taurine in doses ranging from 0.5 grams to 6 grams per day or another treatment for five days to one year. Blood samples collected before and after the intervention evaluated at least one metabolic syndrome outcome.

Participants who received taurine experienced significant reductions in metabolic syndrome markers that included systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and triglycerides. Evaluation of secondary outcomes, including lipid profiles and glycemic markers other than glucose, revealed reductions in total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C and fasting insulin among participants who were given taurine. No significant differences in adverse effects were observed between the groups that received taurine and the control groups.

Authors Chih-Chen Tzang of National Taiwan University and colleagues concluded that taurine has "significant potential in mitigating key metabolic syndrome risk factors, including reductions in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and triglyceride levels. This underscores its potential as a complementary therapeutic agent for metabolic syndrome management, offering a multifaceted approach to glycemic control and cardiovascular health."

"Future research may explore dose-optimization strategies and potential long-term benefits of taurine for metabolic syndrome management."

—D Dye

Low selenium and zinc associated with worse pancreatic cancer outcomes

May 15 2024. The June 2024 issue of Clinical Nutrition reported that low levels of specific trace elements were associated with an increased risk of cancer progression and mortality among South Koreans being treated for pancreatic cancer.

"Trace elements play roles in a variety of biological processes including activating and inhibiting enzymatic reactions and regulating oxidative stress," Jee Ah Kim and colleagues wrote. "Alterations in trace element concentrations may lead to imbalances in oxidative burden, induce DNA damage, and affect innate and adaptive immunity, leading to malignant transformation."

The retrospective study included 124 patients with pancreatic cancer, 50 chronic pancreatitis patients and 120 healthy control subjects who had serum trace element measurements that included cobalt, copper, selenium and zinc. Among pancreatic cancer patients, levels were measured at diagnosis and after a median of 282.5 days from the beginning of treatment.

Cobalt levels were significantly higher and selenium levels were significantly lower among patients with pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis compared with the healthy subjects. (Chronic pancreatitis can lead to pancreatic cancer.) Among pancreatic cancer patients, copper, selenium and zinc declined during treatment.

During a median follow-up period of 152.5 months, 85.5% of pancreatic cancer patients progressed or relapsed and 84.7% died. Those whose selenium levels were categorized as low during treatment had more than double the rate of mortality than those whose trace element levels increased or remained unchanged and low zinc was associated with a 72% greater risk. Patients who had two or more trace element deficiencies following cancer therapy had worse outcomes than patients with no or one deficiency.

"This study revealed that decreases in selenium and zinc concentrations during cancer treatment were associated with adverse outcomes in terms of cancer progression and mortality in patients with pancreatic cancer," the authors concluded.

—D Dye

Regular vitamin D use associated with lower dementia risk

May 13 2024. The April 2024 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported the findings of a team from the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, Germany of a lower risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease among men and women who regularly used vitamin D. The study also uncovered a greater risk of dementia among those who were deficient in the vitamin.

The researchers utilized data from the UK Biobank, which enrolled participants between 40 to 69 years of age from 2006–2022. The current investigation was limited to 269,229 participants aged 55 years and older who did not have pre-existing dementia at enrollment and had data available concerning vitamin D usage and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Vitamin D usage included over-the-counter and prescription vitamin D.

During 12.7 to 16.2 years of follow-up, dementia was diagnosed among 7,087 participants. Compared with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of 20 ng/mL or more that were categorized as sufficient, deficient vitamin D levels of less than 12 ng/mL were associated with a 25% higher risk of developing dementia. Individuals with vitamin D insufficiency, which was categorized as 12 ng/mL to less than 20 ng/mL, also had higher dementia risks than those whose levels were sufficient.

People who were regular vitamin D and multivitamin users had a 17% lower risk of developing Alzheimer disease and a 14% lower risk of vascular dementia compared with nonusers.

"Our study illuminates consistent associations between various facets of vitamin D and multivitamin intake, objectively measured vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency from blood samples, and 14-y dementia incidence in a study population aged 55 to 69 y at baseline," the authors concluded. "Randomized controlled trials with long follow-up periods are indispensable to establishing the efficacy of dementia prevention strategies.20

—D Dye

Review suggests zinc shortens colds

May 10 2024. A review published May 8, 2024, in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews adds evidence to the use of zinc to decrease common cold duration.

Zinc is an essential mineral that has been shown to interfere with viral replication in mice. It has been used in the form of lozenges, sprays or syrups during colds or as a preventive nutrient during cold season.

Assistant professor Daryl Nault of Maryland University of Integrative Health and her colleagues reviewed 34 clinical trials that evaluated the effects of zinc for cold prevention or treatment. Among the eight trials that examined zinc's effect on cold duration, colds lasted an average of one week in the placebo groups. The researchers found low-certainty evidence that using zinc shortened colds by two days. Nausea was among zinc's potential side effects.

"While there have been many trials investigating zinc, the approaches vary, so it is difficult to draw conclusions with certainty," Nault noted.

"The best advice remains to consult your physician if you're feeling unwell," she recommended.

"The evidence on zinc is far from settled: we need more research before we can be confident in its effects," senior author Susan Wieland of the University of Maryland School of Medicine stated. "Future studies should adopt standardized methods for administering and reporting treatments and defining and reporting outcomes. Additional studies focusing on the most promising types and doses of zinc products and using appropriate statistical methods to assess outcomes that are important to patients will enable us to understand whether zinc may have a place in treatment of the common cold."

—D Dye

For longer life, lifestyle beats genes

May 08 2024. Findings from a study reported April 29, 2024, in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine revealed that following a healthy lifestyle could prevent over half of the negative effects of genes on longevity. Of factors evaluated by the study, smoking, activity levels, sleep and diet had the greatest impact on longer life.

The investigation included 353,742 men and women enrolled in the UK Biobank during 2006–2010 who were followed through 2020. Genetic data obtained from the LifeGen study was used to calculate whether each participant had a propensity for a short, intermediate or long lifespan. Lifestyle was categorized as favorable, intermediate or unfavorable according to the presence of factors that included not smoking, consumption of a healthy diet, moderate alcohol intake, engagement in regular physical activity, having a healthy body shape and obtaining adequate sleep.

During a median follow-up of 12.86 years, 24,239 deaths occurred. Participants who were genetically predisposed to a short life span had a 21% higher risk of dying during follow-up compared with those who were predisposed to a long life.

An unfavorable lifestyle was associated with a greater risk of mortality during follow-up among all genetically-determined risk groups. Participants whose lifestyle was classified as unfavorable had a 78% greater risk of dying in comparison with those whose lifestyle was favorable.

Being predisposed to a short lifespan combined with an unfavorable lifestyle was associated with double the risk of dying compared with those predisposed to long life who practiced a favorable lifestyle. Among participants who had a propensity for a short lifespan, a favorable lifestyle was associated with a 54% lower risk of mortality compared with those who had a short lifespan predisposition and an unfavorable lifestyle. "This study elucidates the pivotal role of a healthy lifestyle in mitigating the impact of genetic factors on lifespan reduction," the authors concluded.

—D Dye

Saffron shows promise against age-related macular degeneration

May 06 2024. An article appearing March 13, 2024, in BMJ Open Ophthalmology reported the finding of a benefit for saffron in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss.

"It has previously been shown that . . . the spice saffron (Crocus sativus) may preserve retinal function in the early/intermediate stages of AMD, potentially due to the high concentration of carotenoids," Geoffrey K. Broadhead and colleagues wrote. "As saffron is a powerful antioxidant, it is possible that it acts to reduce oxidative damage and preserve retinal function through this action, and it is additionally thought to have some effect in downregulating inflammatory cytokines, potentially also reducing autoimmune-mediated damage."

The study included 85 men and women with mild or moderate age-related macular degeneration who had previously participated in a six-month cross-over study that administered three months of saffron or a placebo, followed by a three-month period during which the treatments were switched. At the end of this study, the participants were offered 20 milligrams per day saffron for one year. Participants who were using the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS) formula, which contains vitamins C and E, beta carotene, zinc, copper, lutein and zeaxanthin, were permitted to continue. Eye examinations were conducted at the beginning of the study and every three months thereafter.

At the study's conclusion, multifocal electroretinogram response density (which helps evaluate retinal function) improved in comparison with the beginning of the study, including among participants who were using the AREDS formula.

"It has been suggested that in AMD there is a pool of "at-risk" photoreceptors that are diseased but not yet dead," the authors noted. "Potentially in the short term, use of saffron stabilizes these, leading to survival of these photoreceptors over a longer period of time, potentially explaining these findings, although further research is needed to investigate this hypothesis."

—D Dye

How the brain obtains choline

May 03 2024. Research reported May 1, 2024, in the journal Nature determined how choline, a nutrient needed for the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, enters the brain.

"Choline is a vitamin-like nutrient that is essential for many important functions in the body, particularly for brain development," explained first author Dr Rosemary Cater of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Australia. "We need to consume 400-500 mg of choline per day to support cell regeneration, gene expression regulation, and for sending signals between neurons."

For molecules to be used by the brain, they must first pass the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from the entry of potentially harmful substances. "This blood-brain barrier prevents molecules in the blood that are toxic to the brain from entering," Dr Cater stated. "The brain still needs to absorb nutrients from the blood, so the barrier contains specialized cellular machines – called transporters – that allow specific nutrients such as glucose, omega-3 fatty acids and choline to enter. While this barrier is an important line of defense, it presents a challenge for designing drugs to treat neurological disorders."

It was recently determined that the transporter protein FLVCR1 is a choline transporter. However, FLVCR1 is not highly expressed at the blood-brain barrier. Endothelial cells at the blood-brain barrier express a similar protein known as FLVCR2. The current research revealed that FLVCR2 transports choline across the blood-brain barrier and is responsible for most of the brain's choline uptake.

"This is critical information for understanding how to design drugs that mimic choline so that they can be transported by FLVCR2 to reach their site of action within the brain," Dr Cater remarked. "These findings will inform the future design of drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer's and stroke."

—D Dye

Cranberry extract supports a healthy microbiome

May 01 2024. Findings from a study reported March 6, 2024, in the Nature journal npj Biofilms and Microbiomes revealed an increase in beneficial probiotics of the genus Bifidobacterium and other microbiome changes in people who consumed cranberry extract.

"Normally, these bacteria are stimulated by dietary fiber consumption," noted first author Jacob Lessard-Lord, PhD, of Laval University. "We observed the same effect with cranberry extract with a dose almost 20 times lower."

Cranberries are a rich source of a type of polyphenol known as flavan-3-ols as well as oligosaccharide fibers.

The study included men and women who were asked to refrain from foods that contained flavan-3-ols for a week. Participants were subsequently assigned to four days during which they consumed cranberry extract capsules twice per day. Stool samples were collected before and after the treatment period from 28 participants.

At the study's conclusion, Bifidobacteria and butyrate-producing bacteria in stool samples were increased compared with samples obtained prior to the administration of cranberry extract.

Improvement in the composition of the gut microbiome can help protect against unfavorable effects of a Western diet. "This diet alters the microbiota, causes inflammation of the mucosa, and compromises the integrity of the intestinal barrier, which plays a crucial role in protecting the body from bacteria present in the gut," research team leader Yves Desjardins explained. "Alteration of the intestinal barrier allows the passage of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) derived from the intestinal microbiota, known as metabolic endotoxemia, and is a crucial factor in the onset and progression of inflammation and metabolic diseases."

"This study is the first, to the best of our knowledge, to demonstrate the bifidogenic effect of a short-term supplementation with a cranberry extract rich in both (poly)phenols and oligosaccharides in a short-term human clinical trial," the authors concluded. "Further research should evaluate the long-term effect of this treatment, as well as the impact on health."

—D Dye

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