Telomerase Stimulation Extends Lifespan in Mice

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

Stimulation of telomerase safely extended lifespan in mice, new study shows

In a landmark study demonstrating “proof of principle” of the feasibility and safety of “slowing or turning back the clock,” Spanish researchers gave aged mice a single treatment to stimulate genetic expression of telomerase that extended health and lifespan by up to 24 percent.

These new results serve as yet more validation of research performed by Isagenix Founder John Anderson in partnership with molecular biologist Bill Andrews, Ph.D., on inducing the expression of telomerase in humans with natural compounds for healthier aging and greater longevity. This research is what led to the creation of Isagenix product, Product B.

Although previous research has long suggested telomerase expression would maximize the potential for cells to replicate, Maria Blasco, Ph.D., and fellow researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Centre (CNIO) showed unequivocally that increasing this enzyme in aging mice improves health and extends lifespan safely without any increase in rates of cancer.

Dr. Andrews responded with excitement to this new research: “I have been struggling with trying to debate the rumors that telomerase may cause cancer for almost 20 years. In the last 5 years there have been a large number of publications suggesting that telomerase, in fact, does not cause cancer. But, nothing shows it better than this publication by Dr. Maria Blasco that just came out.”

More than just a testament to the safety, the authors of the just-released study report the thrilling implications of “delaying physiological aging and extending longevity in normal mice” through telomerase induction and demonstrating its feasibility as an aging intervention.

Since the discovery of telomerase and its potential to extend lifespan were unveiled, a number of studies have been performed investigating the potential therapeutic benefits. Manipulating gene expression to combat or potentially reverse aging has driven researchers into the field of telomeres.

Telomeres are the guards of the genetic material housed by the cell. These protein caps shelter the chromosome from damage during cell division (at least for the first 80 cycles). With time the telomere shortens and eventually cell death (what we recognize as aging) occurs. Telomerase lengthens telomeres, preventing erosion of the chromosome and damage to DNA—as the authors phrase it, this enzyme acts as a “longevity gene.”

In the current study, a component of telomerase, mTERT, increased lifespan by 24 percent in mice treated at one years of age and by 13 percent in mice treated at two years of age. Researchers used an adeno-associated virus to introduce the mTERT gene therapy to the aged mice. Accessible to a large range of tissues, the authors reported significant improvements in many independent biomarkers of aging.

Bone mineral density increased significantly in both groups of mice. Physical appearance was bolstered by an improved retention of subcutaneous fat–a defining physical feature of youth. Even coordination and balance improved in mice that received the mTERT treatment. Moreover, insulin sensitivity and the ability to maintain blood sugar improved.

In each instance, telomerase appeared to be an agent of regeneration, contributing to more than an appearance of youthful aging. More cell cycles, as shown by the current study, can actually translate to a longer lifetime. The authors report that this telomerase gene therapy may “affect maximum longevity” and more importantly, do so without increasing risk for cancer. The potential, therefore, is currently limitless.

Telomere length is known to be influenced by a variety of factors. Engaging in stress reduction, meditation, physical activity, and diet can extend telomere length and potentially lifespan. Researchers are nearing the potential of tapping our own genes to promote healthier, longer lives. Telomerase could be the key for regeneration, rejuvenation, and “turning back the clock.”

With enthusiasm, Dr. Andrews cites this paper as yet another example, “that lengthening telomeres extends the lifespans of mice and has remarkable beneficial effects on their health and fitness. It’s a very exciting day for telomerase/telomere research. Telomeres are the key to longer, healthier lives. Everything that John Anderson and I are working on is fulfilling the promises that Maria’s new publication forecasts. I’m excited!”

In previous research at Harvard Medical School, geneticist Ronald Dephino, Ph.D. and colleagues found that mice lacking telomerase aged much more rapidly, and died earlier, as an abundance of critically short telomeres developed. But when the enzyme was reawakened in the mice, age-related symptoms disappeared and rejuvenation was seen in several organs including their brains.

Reference: de jesus BB, Vera E, Schneeberger K, Tejera AM, Ayuso E, Bosch F, and Blasco MA. Telomerase gene therapy in adult and old mice delays aging and increases longevity without increasing cancer. EMBO Mol Med 2012;4:1-14.DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201200245

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A Word on HBO’s “The Weight of the Nation”

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

HBO's documentary focuses on need for weight-loss solutions, which Isagenix can provide.

The obesity epidemic is a national crisis as well as a heavy burden to public health. The Institute of Medicine (IOM), in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in partnership with Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, have brought the research into the spotlight with The Weight the Nation, a four-part documentary premiering last night on HBO.

The facts about overweight and obesity in the United States come with their own serving of shock value. With 36 percent of adults and 18 percent of children obese, this campaign aims to raise awareness, and kick-start a change toward a healthier population.

Less than one third of Americans are capable of maintaining a healthy body weight (classified by body mass index). Thomas Frieden, the Director of the CDC, explains that the damage to health is vast, there is not a single part of the body that is unaffected by overweight and obesity. The statistics are staggering:

  • Nearly 66 percent of people with arthritis are overweight or obese
  • Risk for kidney disease increases by 83 percent
  • Risk of dementia  increases by 80 percent

Sharing the spotlight of this epidemic, risk for diabetes is on the rise. Now more than 79 million Americans are prediabetic and 25 million have the full diagnosis. The truth of fat is sobering, and unfortunately our society is in the throngs of a struggle. Armed with information, this documentary presents the problem but also prompts the road to recovery.

The practical reality is that fat is not just unsightly, but dangerous. However, the danger from weight gain is also reversible. Samuel Klein, Director for the Center of Human Nutrition and Washington University School of Medicine, explains that a small amount of weight loss, 5 to 10 percent of body weight, is beneficial to health.

An obese person may not be at elevated metabolic risk, depending upon the location of their body fat (below the skin, around the abdomen, within the organs). Rudolph Leibel, co-director of the New York Obesity Research Center explained that abdominal obesity (produced by visceral fat) is related to the risks for diabetes, heart disease, and heart attack. It is the location of body fat that can differentiate the level of health risks faced by two individuals that appear to be the same body weights.

In addition to the threats of abdominal obesity, fatty liver disease is also on the rise, and perhaps playing a bigger part in what deems fat detrimental. The liver, Klein says, “has a central role in causing or being involved the metabolic complications of obesity…such as diabetes, high blood fats and blood lipids and eventually heart disease and death.” About 30 percent of all adults and 38 percent of obese children have fatty liver disease.

In an unorthodox experiment, Klein induced weight gain in already overweight individuals. What he found was that a 5 percent increase in body weight over a period of a few months led to a 160 percent increase in liver fat. The good news, he suggests is that “we know that when you begin the weight-loss process, you’ll very rapidly reduce the fat content of your liver. In fact, we found that 48 hours of calorie restriction causes a 25 percent reduction in liver fat content” – that should be a powerful motivator for anyone overweight considering a calorie-restricted program such as that of an Isagenix system!

The documentary being featured on HBO is the central point of the movement toward getting over obesity. The first two segments of the film, Consequences and Choices premiered last night, May 14 and laid the framework for the last segments Children in Crisis and Challenges, set to air this evening, May 15.

Overcoming over-weight and obesity is a commitment to your health, the health of your children, and the health of a nation too large. Weight loss is not a fad, but a lifestyle. Choosing systems like Isagenix that offer nutrient-dense meal options with an emphasis on portion control, and coupling that with physical activity, is integral to gain ground in the fight against fat.

The benefits of weight loss are rapid. Metabolic improvements are not always seen by the eye, but liver and visceral fat are the first fat stores to be mobilized during calorie reduction, elimination of which could vastly improve your health long-term. The cleansing program that is recommended by Isagenix delivers upon these same principles. Detoxifying your body through fat mobilization, particularly in these risky regions, contributes to overall weight loss, wellbeing, and longevity.

As portrayed in this documentary, most Americans struggle maintaining their weight. Not just a question of genetics and environment, as David Altshuler, MD, PhD, suggests in the documentary, this crisis is not a question of nature versus nurture, but instead is a problem with “nature and nurture.” Ranging from food policy to mood and stress, the struggle for a healthy body weight becomes increasingly complex.

Previously reviewed on our Isagenix Health Blog, mindful eating is shown to reduce stress and support weight loss. Elissa Epel from the Univeristy of California San Francisco studies stress as a driver of uncontrolled eating. As she puts it, the problem is not “what you’re eating, but what’s eating you.” Overeating in response to stress is as much a problem for the body as a problem of the mind.

How to lose weight is a question in which Isagenix can offer a practical, aggressive answer through complete, balanced systems. Your risk for chronic disease can be reduced within the first two days of starting a calorie-restricted regimen with Cleanse Days and Shake Days. The addition of Ionix Supreme can also support battling stress. Why take your time making the decision, when it could be taking time off your lifespan?

Get educated and get involved. Confront America’s obesity epidemic by tuning into the second segment of The Weight of the Nation tonight on HBO. For more information, podcasts, and access to the full documentary, visit: http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/.

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Which Form of Vitamin D Is Best?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

Vitamin D3 is more potent than D2, according to a meta-analysis.

By now you may have learned what vitamin D can do for your bones, muscle, your heart, and even your telomeres (those protective caps on chromosomes), but are you getting the right amount in the right form to boost levels optimally? 

Vitamin D is perhaps the most unique and certainly the most broadly influential “vitamin” in our diet. Given the scope of its action it may be no surprise this vitamin is not a vitamin at all, but works more like a hormone. Supplement users are acquainted with vitamin D in two forms:  vitamin D2, available in plants and fortified foods, and vitamin D3, the natural form produced in the partnership between skin and sunshine and also found in some animal foods like egg yolks and oily fish.

Which one are you getting? Does it matter? Because of mixed data on potency, the scientific community has long been at odds regarding which form is best to bring levels in the blood stream up to optimal status; and finally an answer has been unveiled. For the first time, a systematic review and meta-analysis including 17 studies comparing the use of vitamin D2 to D3 suggest that D3 is the one most effective at raising blood levels of the vital-for-health vitamin.

Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, most of the evidence deems D3 as superior to D2. “Our results suggest a favoring toward cholecalciferol ]D3] rather than ergocalciferol [D2] supplementation with respect to the more effective improvement of vitamin D status,” wrote the researchers.

Why is there a discrepancy between the forms? They both after all contribute to active circulating levels of vitamin D. Researchers believe the answer to this question is becoming clearer.  Both types must undergo a series of conversions in the body to become “active.”  Becoming calcitriol, the active form, involves the liver and the kidney, some chemical reactions, and a bit of structural manipulation before it can exert a benefit on nearly every cell in the body. Put simply, vitamin D2 is not as easily converted to calcitriol as vitamin D3.  Higher rates of conversion not only mean it is more effective, it also has implications for how long this hormone will be around to confer benefits. Given the information currently available, vitamin D3 seems to be the best bang for your buck when it comes to supplementation.

With the majority of people vitamin D deficient, the need for supplementation is vast. Though our bodies do make vitamin D from sun exposure, the amount of sunshine in northern countries is not sufficient, especially during the winter months, for the body to produce enough vitamin D. This makes it absolutely necessary to get adequate vitamin D from foods naturally rich in vitamin D, fortified foods, and dietary supplements.

Even in the summer months, as people actively try to avoid excessive UV exposure—protective measures, which should absolutely be taken to avoid sunburn and higher risk of skin cancer—vitamin D status may still be in peril. This research emphasizes that there’s no need to change your defense against too much sun, even for the sake of vitamin D. High-quality dietary supplement such as Ageless Actives are available and offer more than two times the recommended daily value of vitamin D3.

Stay on top of your sun protection and take comfort in knowing that you don’t have to compromise your skin for your nutrition—when it comes to this hormone, the best defense against deficiency or low status may be offensive supplementation with D3.

Reference:  Tripkovic L, Lambert H, Hart K et al. Comparison of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 supplementation in raising serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2012. doi: 10.3945/​ajcn.111.031070

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Spring Cleanse Your Way to Swimsuit Season and Better Health

Posted on May 9, 2012 by

Want a jumpstart to wellness before bikini season? A spring "cleanse" helps in five ways

It’s that time of year where many people are sprucing up their home or wardrobe, but it’s also the perfect time to spruce up your health and body by cleansing with Isagenix. More than just a way to get your body toned for swimsuit season, cleansing with Isagenix offers a surefire way to recharge, gain energy, and improve your overall health.

Depending on the type of Isagenix system you’re embarking on, Cleanse Days will involve one or two days a week, or every other week, where you’ll abstain from food and in its place will be the drink Cleanse for Life, plenty of purified water, and other little nutrient-packed “tools” to get you through.

Ask anyone who’s lost weight on Isagenix and they will surely tell you that these Cleanse Days are what gave them the “jump start” to results and benefits that are seen from the overall system. It’s not just other people too—as with anything else made by Isagenix—Cleanse Days encompass the benefits seen in well-designed, published studies. Here are five reasons why Cleanse Days will bring you results:

  1. “Jump Starts” Fat Burning: The reduction of calories on Cleanse Days stimulates the body’s fat burning furnaces by increasing human growth hormone while suppressing proteins responsible for fat synthesis and storage. Notably, the surge in human growth hormone also helps protect against muscle breakdown as long as followed with intake of quality protein (as on Shake Days).
  2. Triggers Detoxification: The abstinence of food on Cleanse Days gives the digestion processes a break, allowing the liver to kick into detox high gear. Also, with the reduction of fat deposits on Cleanse Days comes the release of stored fat-soluble toxins. By drinking Cleanse for Life on Cleanse Days, this helps encourage even deeper detoxification. Cleanse for Life provides several significant advantages over traditional fasting: The drink contains B vitamins, which are depleted during normal fasting. These vitamins are essential for normal body metabolism and energy production. It also contains bioactive herbal ingredients demonstrated to stimulate antioxidative and detoxification enzyme pathways including glutathione transferases, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. And, finally, Cleanse for Life contains potent antioxidative complexes that directly contribute to the body’s antioxidant defense system.
  3. Improves Insulin Sensitivity: A review of animal and human studies involving intermittent or alternate-day fasting, or abstaining from food for one or two days in between normal calorie consumption days, found that fasting resets cellular sensitivity to glucose and insulin (1). This in itself can bring better health—allowing the body to better control blood sugar. The opposite of being insulin sensitive is insulin resistant, which is related to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Recently, research has shown that periodic intermittent fasting was associated with reduced risk in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (2).
  4. Reduces oxidative stress and inflammation: As fat cells shrink, they release fewer pro-inflammatory cytokines (signaling molecules) that cause oxidative stress and inflammation. Less total body fat also helps improve antioxidant status in the body. The end result is improved health overall and lower risk of chronic disease. Oxidative stress, in particular, plays a heavy toll on telomeres (related to aging). The lower the oxidative stress, the better for healthy aging.
  5. Activates Your “Longevity Genes”: Studies in animals suggest that intermittent fasting on Cleanse Days can activate genetic expression of SIRT1, dubbed the “longevity gene” (3). The scientific interest in sirtuins, the family of proteins that SIRT1 is a part of, has grown since the early 2000s because of findings that stimulation of them—via calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, and compounds such as resveratrol—may slow aging and increase lifespan.

So what the about other parts of the Cleansing and Fat Burning System that are so great? For one, Shake Days on an Isagenix system can also be considered “calorie restricted” days. Two meals replaced with an IsaLean Shake and one 400- to 600-calorie well-balanced meal will most likely equate to consuming fewer calories than normal. If followed consistently, this in itself can lead to weight loss. On top of weight loss, calorie restriction has shown in both animal and human studies to elongate life and protect against chronic disease (1).

What’s more, the biggest component of an Isagenix system is IsaLean Shake, a nutrient-dense meal that feeds the body whey protein, which has consistently shown in studies to be the top choice (compared to other sources of protein like soy) for:

  • Reducing muscle loss, which is usually associated with most weight-loss plans (4;6)
  • Reducing total body fat and visceral fat by increasing fat burning (oxidation) (5;6)
  • Increasing thermogenesis, which increases the amount of calories burned (5)

On top of this, Isagenix systems promote the regular use of Ionix Supreme, an adaptogen-rich tonic that helps reduce the stress associated with weight loss and helps with the “feel good” effects of the program.

The beauty of a Cleansing and Fat Burning System from Isagenix lies in the combination of its individual parts. Not a system that involves restricting yourself to drinking plain juices, or worse yet, taking laxatives, Isagenix offers a lifestyle plan that supports weight and fat loss, will get you into swimsuit-shape, and supports muscle maintenance, supreme nutrition, and maximum detoxification.

References:

1. Varady KA, Hellerstein MK. Alternate-day fasting and chronic disease prevention: a review of human and animal trials. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86-13.

2. Horne BD, et al. Usefulness of routine periodic fasting to lower risk of coronary artery disease among patients undergoing coronary angiography. Am J Cardiol 2008.2008 Oct 1;102(7):814-81.

3. Walker AK, et al. Conserved role of SIRT1 orthologs in fasting-dependent inhibition of the lipid/cholesterol regulator SREBP. Genes Dev 2010;24:1403-17.

4. Baer DJ, Stote KS, Paul DR, et al. Whey Protein but Not Soy Protein Supplementation Alters Body Weight and Composition in Free-Living Overweight and Obese Adults. J Nutr July 2011, 141.

5. Acheson KJ. Protein choices targeting thermogenesis and metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr 2011; 93: 525-34

6. Josse AR, Atkinson SA, Tarnopolsky MA, Phillips SM. Increased Consumption of Dairy Foods and Protein during Diet- and Exercise-Induced Weight Loss Promotes Fat Mass Loss and Lean Mass Gain in Overweight and Obese Premenopausal Women. J Nutr 2011;141:1626-34

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Why Whey is Good for Mom Too

Posted on May 8, 2012 by

Whey protein helps women lose weight while keeping muscle and bone, study suggests

Wisdom increases with age, but muscle and bone strength do not. How about giving mom a way to help her lose weight, build muscle, and improve balance this Mother’s Day? Moms can get the structural support they need to stay grounded with whey-based IsaLean Shake or IsaLean Pro. Whey protein may be the most effective protein supplement when it comes to stimulating muscle protein synthesis and supporting bones in older women, according to researchers from the University of Illinois.

Aging is associated with decreases in muscle and bone strength, compromised balance, and reduced physical fitness. Research published in The Journal of Gerontology suggests that this does not have to be the case. The authors of the current study report that a higher intake of quality protein promoted lean muscle and reduced fat mass in elderly women.

The double-blind clinical trial randomized 31 post-menopausal overweight or obese women to a reduced-calorie diet and moderate physical activity for six months with either a 25-gram whey protein or a carbohydrate supplement consumed twice daily. The researchers measured changes in body weight, fat mass, fat distribution, muscle strength, muscle accretion, leg strength, and functional markers. This study found that the women on the diet supplemented with whey protein lost more weight and kept more muscle in comparison to the women on the diet with more carbohydrates.

The authors wrote, “A higher intake during caloric restriction maintains muscle relative to weight loss, which in turn enhances physical function in older women.”

Women who are overweight and experience age-related muscle loss are almost four times more likely to have functional limitations than women of the same age with a healthy body weight. In the past, to the peril of physical fitness, researchers have thought that weight loss in older women can reduce muscle mass and increase frailty.

According to these results, however, “older adults consuming greater amounts of protein are less likely to lose lean mass over time.”

The study suggests that older women trying to lose weight can combat muscle loss by consuming a divided dose of 50 grams of whey protein daily. Higher protein, especially from calcium-containing whey protein, helps eliminate the decline in bone, muscle mass, and muscle strength typically seen with weight loss in the elderly, according to these results.

These results are important in defining the recommendations for weight loss and dietary interventions that best meet the needs of overweight and obese older women. Shown as net gains in muscle and net losses of fatty tissue, the pairing of weight loss with a high quality protein supplement enhances not only weight loss, but overall body composition too.

The authors suggest that, “Losing some of the burden caused by overweight on the leg joints may help prevent injuries and furthermore help maintain physical independence with aging.”

The scope of this study was limited both by the small sample size, and the short duration, according to researchers. However, they hypothesize that protein supplementation could show greater benefits in older women when coupled with resistance training.

The findings are a good bridge for further research into methods for sustaining muscle mass and physical function of women into old age. So what does this mean for mom? Its no secret that muscle and bone health is a woman’s plight as she gets older. Whey protein may help keep your mom stronger, longer.

Also, don’t forget to give mom Isagenix Essentials for Women. The multivitamin-mineral supplement containing optimal doses of calcium and vitamin D, when combined with whey, may be the ticket to giving the strong women in your life the message of just how essential they are to you.

Reference: Mojtahed MC et al. The effects of a higher protein intake during energy restriction on changes in body composition and physical function in older women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2011. DOI: 10.1093/Gerona/glr120.

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