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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.

Nicotinamide riboside shows promise against PAD

June 28 2024. A report published June 13, 2024, in Nature Communications revealed the results of a trial that found a benefit for nicotinamide riboside in people with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition in which arteries that supply blood to the legs, arms, stomach and head become narrowed by plaque like that which occurs in the coronary or cerebral arteries. People with PAD of the lower extremities often experience pain during walking.

The NICotinamidE riboside with and without resveratrol to improve functioning in PAD (NICE) randomized, double-blind trial compared the effects of these two treatments to a placebo among 90 men and women with PAD of the lower extremities. Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 that is a precursor to NAD+, a molecule involved in energy production, DNA repair and other functions. Resveratrol is an antioxidant found in plants that also increases levels of NAD+.

Twenty-eight participants received 1000 milligrams (mg) nicotinamide riboside, 33 received 1000 mg nicotinamide riboside plus 125 mg resveratrol and 29 were given a placebo for six months. At three and six months, participants were evaluated for the distance they could walk during a six-minute period and other abilities.

After three months, nicotinamide riboside improved six-minute walking distance by an average of 22.4 meters and nicotinamide riboside plus resveratrol resulted in an improvement of 20.6 meters compared with the placebo. For those who consumed 75% or more of the study pills at six months, nicotinamide riboside improved six-minute walking distances by 31 meters compared with the placebo and nicotinamide riboside plus resveratrol improved it by 26.9 meters. "Nicotinamide riboside meaningfully improved six-minute walk, and resveratrol did not add benefit to nicotinamide alone in PAD," Mary M. McDermott and colleagues concluded. "A larger clinical trial to confirm these findings is needed."

—D Dye

Higher vitamin B6 intake associated with lower stroke risk

June 26 2024. A study involving 24,214 men and women found a lower risk of stroke among those who consumed higher amounts of vitamin B6. The findings were published in the May 30, 2024, issue of Heliyon.

Vitamin B6, a member of the B complex, includes pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine.

Researchers at Guangzhou Medical University in China analyzed data collected from 2005–2018 from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was established to assess the nutritional status and health of U.S. children and adults beginning in the 1960s. The current study included 921 participants who had been diagnosed with stroke and 23,293 with no stroke history. Vitamin B6 intake was ascertained from responses to two dietary recall interviews.

People whose vitamin B6 intake was among the top 25% of the current study's subjects had a 52% lower adjusted risk of stroke in comparison with individuals whose intake was among the lowest 25%. Authors Chao Wang and colleagues observed that B vitamins lower levels of the amino acid homocysteine which, when elevated, increase stroke risk. Vitamin B6 also helps support a healthy inflammatory response by inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

"These results indicate that individuals with higher vitamin B6 intake have a lower risk of experiencing a stroke," Wang and associates wrote. "Our study found that the benefits of higher vitamin B6 intake in reducing stroke risk were consistent across various subgroups, including different age groups (60 and ≥60 years), genders, ethnicities (non-Hispanic whites and Mexican Americans), former smokers, mild-to-moderate drinkers, hypertensive patients, those without diabetes, those without asthma, those with and without arthritis history, individuals engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity, and those with PHQ-9 depression scores 10 and ≥ 10."

—D Dye

Even in old age, healthy lifestyle increases chances of living to 100

June 24 2024. On June 20, 2024, JAMA Network Open reported the finding of researchers in China of a greater chance of reaching centenarian status among older men and women who scored high for a healthy lifestyle.

"Most existing studies have targeted a broad spectrum of middle-aged (≥45 years) and/or older (≥60 years) groups, with limited understanding of how lifestyle factors would affect health outcomes in individuals of advanced age (≥80 years)," Yaqi Li, PhD, and colleagues wrote.

The research team evaluated data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, an ongoing survey that sampled half of the counties and cities in 22 mainland China provinces. Survey responses were analyzed from participants aged 80 years and older beginning in 1998 who were followed through 2017. The study included 1,454 individuals who became centenarians during follow-up matched with 3,768 men and women who died before the age of 100. Participants' survey responses were scored on a scale of 0-10 for the presence of healthy lifestyle factors, which included smoking status, drinking status, exercise, dietary diversity and body mass index.

During a median 5-year follow-up, subjects with the highest healthy lifestyle scores had a 33% greater chance of becoming a centenarian compared with those whose scores were among the lowest. When healthy lifestyle scores were reconstructed to include only factors that were significantly associated with attaining centenarian status (never smoking, currently exercising and consuming a more diverse diet), the odds associated with a high score rose to 61%.

"Studying the potential lifestyle factors associated with survivorship to become a centenarian among those already members of the very advanced age group can provide unique insight into achieving healthy longevity and generate evidence-based strategies to promote healthy aging.," Dr Li and associates remarked.

—D Dye

N-acetylcysteine shows promise for heart attack prevention

June 21 2024. The February 2024 issue of the American Heart Association journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology reported positive preclinical results for the conditionally essential amino acid N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to prevent thrombosis (blood clot formation) that can cause heart attack and stroke.

"We chose NAC because of its current clinical use and safety history," first author Christopher A. Bresette, PhD, remarked. "Using an existing drug for off-label use can speed up the time it takes to start helping patients.""

The ability of blood platelets to aggregate and form clots is essential to prevent bleeding; however, clots can form when they are not needed and cause narrowing or blockage of blood vessels. Current antiplatelet drugs prescribed for blood clot prevention help save lives but increase bleeding risk. "Doctors are between a rock and a hard place — we can give you a drug that may help prevent a second cardiac event, but it might also cause a lot of bleeding," explained senior author David Ku, MD, PhD. "These blood clots are held together by a protein called von Willebrand factor (VWF), which is a different target for drugs."

"The VWF grabs platelets and the platelets activate, so they release more VWF, which grabs more platelets, creating a positive feedback loop that leads to really fast clot formation," Dr Brisette explained.

N-acetylcysteine acts against VWF rather than platelets to prevent clot formation. Blood treated with two different doses of NAC respectively took 2 and 3.7 times longer to form clots than untreated blood. At a higher dose, no large clot formation occurred. In mice, NAC prevented blood clots from forming without affecting bleeding.

"This work highlights a new pathway for preventing arterial thrombosis, different from antiplatelet agents, using an amino acid derivative as an antithrombotic therapeutic," the authors concluded.

—D Dye

B vitamins hold promise for Parkinson Disease

June 19 2024. Findings from a meta-analysis published May 21, 2024 in the Nature journal npj Parkinson's disease suggested a role for the B vitamins riboflavin (vitamin B2) and biotin (vitamin B7) in preventing some of the symptoms of Parkinson disease.

"Supplementation therapy targeting riboflavin and biotin holds promise as a potential therapeutic avenue for alleviating Parkinson disease symptoms and slowing disease progression," first author Hiroshi Nishiwaki of the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan predicted.

B vitamins are involved in processes that affect the production and function of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and polyamines. Short-chain fatty acids and polyamines contribute to the maintenance of the intestinal barrier that prevents toxins in the intestines from entering the blood.

The research team analyzed fecal samples from 94 Parkinson disease patients and 73 individuals who did not have the disease. Five previously analyzed datasets were included in their meta-analysis. They found an increase in one variety of intestinal bacteria and a decrease in two others in samples obtained from Parkinson disease patients. Fecal SCFAs and polyamines and genes involved in the synthesis of riboflavin and biotin were significantly decreased.

"Deficiencies in polyamines and SCFAs could lead to thinning of the intestinal mucus layer, increasing intestinal permeability, both of which have been observed in Parkinson disease," Nishiwaki explained. "This higher permeability exposes nerves to toxins, contributing to abnormal aggregation of alpha-synuclein, activating the immune cells in the brain, and leading to long-term inflammation."

"We could perform gut microbiota analysis on patients or conduct fecal metabolite analysis," Nishiwaki suggested. "Using these findings, we could identify individuals with specific deficiencies and administer oral riboflavin and biotin supplements to those with decreased levels, potentially creating an effective treatment."

—D Dye

Antioxidants associated with improved indicators of eye health

June 17 2024. A meta-analysis published in the May 2024 issue of Advances in Nutrition revealed improvements in macular pigment optical density, contrast sensitivity and other aspects of eye health among men and women given antioxidants including xanthophylls (lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin) and fatty acids, in comparison with those in control groups.

"Researchers suggest that different groups of antioxidants can work cooperatively to enhance eye protective effects," authors Weili Hu of the National University of Singapore and colleagues noted.

The current investigation included 38 randomized, controlled trials that evaluated the effects of various antioxidants on macular pigment optical density, contrast sensitivity, photostress recovery time and visual acuity. The researchers evaluated the treatment groups depending upon the nutrient combinations they received, which included lutein; zeaxanthin; lutein plus zeaxanthin; lutein, zeaxanthin plus fatty acids; lutein, zeaxanthin, plus meso-zeaxanthin; lutein, antioxidants and fatty acids; lutein, zeaxanthin plus antioxidants; and lutein, zeaxanthin, antioxidants plus fatty acids. The antioxidants other than lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin included vitamins, minerals and anthocyanins. Fatty acids consisted of omega-3 (particularly DHA) with the exception of one trial that utilized a fatty acid mixture. Duration of treatment ranged from 6 to 208 weeks.

All treatment groups experienced greater macular pigment optical density and contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequency compared with the control groups. Participants who received antioxidants, lutein and fatty acids had significantly improved visual acuity and those who received lutein plus zeaxanthin showed improvement in photostress recovery time. The combination of lutein, zeaxanthin and fatty acids was associated with the greatest improvement in optical density and was second best for contrast sensitivity.

"Overall, antioxidant supplementation was estimated to improve eye health parameters, whereas different combinations of antioxidants may also have varying effects on improving visual health from multiple perspectives," Hu and colleagues concluded.

—D Dye

Glucosamine associated with lower risk of adverse liver outcomes in diabetics

June 14 2024. A study reported June 6, 2024, in Liver International uncovered an association between regular use of glucosamine and a lower risk of major adverse liver outcomes among men and women with type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).

The study included 18,753 individuals recruited into the UK Biobank database from 2006–2010. Glucosamine use was reported by 2,775 subjects. During an average follow-up period of 11.4 years, there were 826 major adverse liver outcome events, including ascites, cirrhosis, encephalopathy (brain dysfunction), esophageal varices (enlarged veins in the esophagus), esophageal variceal bleed, liver cancer and portal hypertension.

People who did not report regular usage of glucosamine had an adjusted 36% greater risk of major adverse liver outcomes compared with those who used glucosamine. Adjusted risks of cirrhosis, encephalopathy, esophageal varices, esophageal variceal bleeds, liver cancer and portal hypertension were respectively 44%, 41%, 35%, 41%, 37% and 37% higher among those who did not report glucosamine use in comparison with glucosamine users. When individuals who used supplements other than glucosamine were excluded from the analysis, non-users still had a significantly higher risk (58%) of major adverse liver diseases than users.

Risks of experiencing major adverse liver outcomes within three, five and ten years of follow-up were 79%, 88% and 32% higher in glucosamine non-users. Suggested protective mechanisms for glucosamine included support of healthy inflammatory and immune responses.

"We found a lower risk of individual and composite major adverse liver outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes and MASLD with regular use of glucosamine compared with those without use of glucosamine," the authors, of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, concluded. "More interventional or mechanistic studies are warranted to validate this association."

—D Dye

Research suggests vitamin D may contribute to longer life

June 12 2024. An article published June 12, 2024, in Science Advances revealed a role for germ cells (which develop into sperm in males and eggs in females) in longevity and a positive effect for vitamin D in an experimental animal model.

"Generally, reproduction is thought to be negatively correlated with lifespan.," Kota Abe and colleagues at Osaka University wrote. "In this study, using a vertebrate model, it was further revealed that different signaling pathways interconnect germ cells, somatic growth, and aging in different ways depending on the sex."

The researchers utilized a genetic knock-down technique in short-lived African turquoise killfish that resulted in germ cell-depleted embryos. They found that the naturally longer lifespan of females was shortened to that of males, while male lifespan increased. "We wanted to understand how germ cells could affect males and females so differently," Abe stated.

Estrogen signaling was diminished among the female fish and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling increased, resulting in larger females that had reduced signals associated with health maintenance and protection against aging. However, males had better skin, muscle and bone health as well as greater levels of a vitamin D-activating substance and increased vitamin D signaling in muscle and skin.

"When we administered active vitamin D, we found that the lifespans of both males and females were significantly extended, suggesting that vitamin D signaling provides health benefits throughout the body," senior author Tohru Ishitani reported. "Our work suggests that vitamin D signaling could influence the longevity of other vertebrates, including humans."

"Although underlying mechanisms of increased vitamin D signaling by germ-cell-removal is a mystery at present, the life-lengthening effect of vitamin D observed in this study further supports the prospective role of vitamin D as a life span-extending hormone," the authors noted.

—D Dye

Higher blood levels of omega-3s, other nutrients linked with delayed brain aging

June 10 2024. A study reported May 21, 2024, in Aging revealed an association between blood nutrient biomarkers and differences in indicators of brain aging.

"We investigated specific nutrient biomarkers, such as fatty acid profiles, known in nutritional science to potentially offer health benefits," lead investigator Aron Barbey, PhD, of the University of Illinois stated. "This aligns with the extensive body of research in the field demonstrating the positive health effects of the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasizes foods rich in these beneficial nutrients. The present study identifies particular nutrient biomarker patterns that are promising and have favorable associations with measures of cognitive performance and brain health."

The study included 100 older men and women who received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain to measure structure, metabolism and functional connectivity. Comparison of 139 brain measures revealed accelerated or delayed brain aging, with an average difference of 5.4 years between the two.

People with delayed brain aging showed better performance in tests of intelligence, executive function and memory. Blood nutrient biomarker assessment revealed higher levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and ALA, two monounsaturated fatty acids, two omega-6 fatty acids, one long-chain saturated fatty acid, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin E and choline.

"The unique aspect of our study lies in its comprehensive approach, integrating data on nutrition, cognitive function, and brain imaging," Dr Barbey commented. "This allows us to build a more robust understanding of the relationship between these factors. We move beyond simply measuring cognitive performance with traditional neuropsychological tests. Instead, we simultaneously examine brain structure, function, and metabolism, demonstrating a direct link between these brain properties and cognitive abilities. Furthermore, we show that these brain properties are directly linked to diet and nutrition, as revealed by the patterns observed in nutrient biomarkers."

—D Dye

Melatonin use associated with lower risk of macular degeneration

June 07 2024. Men and women who used the sleep hormone melatonin had a significantly lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and less disease progression according to a retrospective study published June 6, 2024, in the American Medical Association journal JAMA Ophthalmology. The disease is characterized by degeneration of the macula in the center of the eyes' retina and has nonexudative (dry) and exudative (wet) forms. Dry AMD can progress to the more serious wet form of AMD.

Researchers analyzed information from the electronic health records of 121,523 men and women aged 50 years or older who had at least one record of receiving an eye examination or being screened for eye disorders that did not reveal wet AMD beginning in November 2008. Individuals who reported melatonin use on four or more occasions at least three months apart were categorized as melatonin users.

Among subjects who did not initially have AMD, those who used melatonin had a 58% lower risk of developing the disease through 2023. For people who had dry AMD, the risk of progressing to wet AMD was 56% less among melatonin users.

When people aged 60 and older were examined, melatonin use was associated with a 64% lower risk of developing AMD and a 62% lower risk of progression from dry to wet AMD. Among those aged 70 years and older, the respective risks were 65% and 60% less among melatonin users.

"Melatonin use was associated with a decreased risk of development and progression of AMD," Hejin Jeong of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and colleagues concluded. "Although lifestyle factors may have influenced this association, these findings provide a rationale for further research on the efficacy of using melatonin as a preventive therapy against AMD."

—D Dye

Inflammatory diet linked with marker of heart failure

June 05 2024. A study published June 5, 2024, in PLOS One added evidence to the dangers of inflammation. Analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) revealed an association between diet-induced inflammation and increased levels of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a protein that, when elevated, is a marker of heart failure.

Elevations in NT-proBNP have been found in people without a history of cardiovascular disease and were recently correlated with a greater risk of all-cause mortality during a median 17.3 years of follow-up.

The study included 10,766 men and women who enrolled in NHANES between 1999 and 2004. Blood serum samples provided at enrollment were analyzed for NT-proBNP levels.

Dietary Inflammatory Indexes (DII) were calculated from questionnaire responses. The DII is based on 27 diet components that positively or negatively affect inflammation. Negative DII scores indicate the consumption of a more anti-inflammatory diet and positive scores indicate a more pro-inflammatory diet.

For each unit increase in DII there was an adjusted 5.54 pg/mL increase in proBNP among individuals without heart failure. People with a history of heart failure whose DII scores were among the top 25-75% had higher NT-proBNP levels than those among the lowest 25%.

"While previous research on dietary patterns in the context of heart failure prevention and treatment has primarily focused on the MedDiet and DASH diet, the role of chronic inflammation in cardiovascular disease progression has been emphasized," authors Teng-Chi Ma and colleagues wrote. "Within this framework, dietary patterns emerge as modifiable elements capable of inducing pro- or anti-inflammatory effects."

"This study identified a positive correlation between the DII and NT-proBNP levels, suggesting a robust link between pro-inflammatory diets and increased heart failure biomarkers, with implications for dietary modifications in cardiovascular risk management," they concluded.

—D Dye

Mediterranean diet linked with longer life among women

June 03 2024. In a study reported May 31, 2024, in JAMA Network Open, women with high adherence to a Mediterranean diet had a 23% lower risk of mortality during up to 25 years of follow-up in comparison with women with low adherence to the diet.

A Mediterranean diet contains healthy amounts of vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes, whole grains and olive oil, moderate amounts of fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs and alcohol, and little in the way of red meat and sugar-sweetened and processed foods.

"For women who want to live longer, our study says watch your diet!" senior author Samia Mora, MD, recommended. "The good news is that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern could result in about one quarter reduction in risk of death over more than 25 years with benefit for both cancer and cardiovascular mortality, the top causes of death in women (and men) in the US and globally."

For the current study, researchers analyzed data from 25,315 participants in the Women's Health Study who enrolled from 1993–1996. Participant responses to questionnaires completed at the beginning of the study were scored for adherence to a Mediterranean diet and categorized as having low, intermediate or high adherence.

During the follow-up period, 3,879 deaths occurred, including 935 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 1,531 deaths from cancer. In comparison with women who had low adherence to the diet, women whose adherence was high had a 23% lower risk of dying during follow-up, and an 11% lower risk after adjustment for lifestyle factors. Evaluation of blood biomarkers determined that variations in small molecular metabolites and markers of inflammation contributed the most to risk reduction.

"Public health policies should promote the healthful dietary attributes of the Mediterranean diet and should discourage unhealthy adaptations," Dr Mora recommended.

—D Dye