From: Technotranscendence (neptune@mars.superlink.net)
Date: Fri Jun 08 2001 - 22:29:27 MDT
LEF Email List1 - http://www.lef.org
LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE JUNE 8 2001
IN THIS ISSUE, JUNE 8 2001: LIFE EXTENSION UPDATE EXCLUSIVE: Another
single gene mutation discovered to produce maximum lifespan extension in
mice; PROTOCOL: Prevention; FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK: Life
Extension Mix Capsules, Melatonin 500 mcg; BOOK: The Melatonin and Aging
Sourcebook; RECEIVE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ONLINE OR BY PHONE!
Another single gene mutation discovered to produce maximum lifespan
extension in mice
The June 5 2001 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences was the site of the publication of an exciting discovery that
a mutation to the pituitary-specific transcription factor-1 or Pit1 locus
on mouse chromosome 16 leads to a greater than 40% extension in maximum
and mean lifespan in a long-lived strain of mice. The gene encodes a
transcription factor required for normal development of the anterior
pituitary gland. A loss of function mutation to the gene led to the
maintenance of several youthful characteristics. The mice bred with the
mutation, known as Snell dwarf mice, exhibited a delay in age-dependent
crosslinking, a condition characteristic of aged tissue. Six tests of
immune function revealed more youthful values in the Snell dwarf mice
compared to controls.
The observable traits of the Snell dwarf mice are believed to be the
result of low levels of growth hormone, prolactin and thyroid-stimulating
hormone, resulting in decreased levels of thyroid hormones and
insulin-like growth factor. To determine whether the restoration of
prolactin would reverse the extension of lifespan, Snell dwarf and normal
mice were given prolactin-secreting pituitary transplants, but this did
not produce a reversal. To further investigate the effect of these
hormones on lifespan extension, mice mutated to be unresponsive to growth
hormone releasing hormone were compared to nonmutant controls. The mice
with the mutation had 1% the growth hormone levels of normal mice and a
15% extension of maximum lifespan, leading to the conclusion that low GH
levels are an important element in the lifespan extension observed.
Because Snell dwarf mice become obese with high leptin levels later in
life, lifespan extension is not associated with decreased adiposity as
with calorie restricted animals.
The changes observed from single mutations led the researchers to conclude
that it produced not only an extension of lifespan due to but a delay in
the effects of aging in several areas, supporting the "single clock" model
of aging.
PROTOCOL
Prevention
The concept of taking actions now to maintain youthful health is based on
published scientific studies showing that the diseases of aging may be
prevented, or can at least be postponed.
People who want to reduce their risk of disease are often overwhelmed by
the volume of technical data on the subject. The Life Extension Foundation
has reviewed more than 64 years' worth of published medical literature,
and Foundation personnel have spent more than 35 years working with
physicians and scientists in the antiaging field.
Before you embark on a program to reduce your risk of degenerative
disease, it is important for you to know about scientific studies
conducted on humans that show these therapies really work. If you are not
aware of these published studies, you may be unlikely to methodically
follow a long-term disease prevention program.
If you are healthy now, and want to stay that way, the Life Extension
Foundation has designed protocols that incorporate the best-documented
disease-preventing nutrients and hormones.
Remember, the Prevention protocol is for healthy people. Those seeking to
treat an existing disease can refer to the many specific disease
prevention protocols.
Hundreds of research studies have been published documenting the health
benefits of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body against agents of
disease called free radicals, which cause chemical reactions (oxidation)
that destroy cells and damage tissues. Oxidation is thought to be not only
one of the most common mechanisms of disease, but also a basis of the
aging process. Free radicals cannot be avoided; ultraviolet light, for
example, is a common source. Therefore, it is essential to take
antioxidants in order to counteract this process and prevent the
degenerative diseases of aging.
Life Extension Mix supplies potent doses of the most powerful
antioxidants: vitamins C and E and vegetable extracts, which are known to
repair the cellular damage that accumulates with age. Studies have shown a
variety of health benefits for antioxidants. Research data have
demonstrated consistently that cancer risk is decreased by antioxidants,
especially vitamin C and lycopene. Beta-carotene helps offset the damage
caused by environmental pollutants. Both vitamins C and E prevent the
oxidation of "bad" LDL fat cells that leads to the buildup of fatty
deposits inside arteries (atherosclerosis). The Cambridge Heart
Antioxidant Study reported that those people with documented heart disease
who took vitamin E significantly decreased their risk of heart attack.
Another recent study found that vitamin E slows the loss of potency of the
immune system that occurs with age. Vitamin E may also improve brain
function. The Life Extension Mix makes it easy to ensure that you get the
proper amounts of these compounds that from diet alone are impossible to
obtain.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151064628/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
FEATURED PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK:
Life Extension Mix Capsules
Life Extension Mix is an antioxidant formula that affords a considerable
degree of protection against free radicals. In addition, Life Extension
Mix includes nutrients that: enhance methylation (an essential process
that declines during aging); inhibit glycosylation (a significant cause of
aging damage); suppress apolipoprotein serum levels (a cause of
atherosclerosis); suppress homocysteine serum levels ( a cause of
cardiovascular disease); suppress mitochondrial oxidative stress (a cause
of premature aging); protect against thrombosis (abnormal blood clotting
inside arteries); maintain microcapillary perfusion; and protect against
DNA mutations that lead to certain cancers.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151064629/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
Melatonin 500 mcg 200 capsules
Melatonin is the most effective antioxidant yet studied because it easily
penetrates cell membranes (especially in the brain) to provide protection
against free radicals throughout all our cells. Melatonin crosses the
blood-brain barrier very effectively. It appears to protect the central
nervous system against injury, disease, and aging better than any other
substance. Melatonin is used to induce drowsiness and improve sleep
patterns. More and more doctors are recommending melatonin as a safe and
effective insomnia therapy. European doctors are prescribing melatonin in
doses of 10 to 50 mg a night to help treat cancer.
In thousands of published studies, melatonin has been shown to protect
against almost every disease associated with aging including
cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, age-associated immune impairment,
and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as against aging itself.
Evidence shows that melatonin is safe in humans in doses of up to 1000 mg
daily. The most common side effect of taking too much melatonin is feeling
drowsy when you wake up. This can be prevented by taking less melatonin
the next night. The Life Extension Foundation uses only
pharmaceutical-quality melatonin that has been assayed to exceed 99.9%
purity. Favorable reports on melatonin have been featured on almost every
news program and in almost every magazine, including cover stories in
Newsweek and USA Today, and feature stories on ABC's 20/20.
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151064630/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
BOOK
Your Body's Natural Wonder Drug: Melatonin
Breakthrough discoveries that can help you:
1. Combat aging
2. Boost your immune system
3. Reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease
4. Get a better night's sleep
5. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure
6. Improve mood and reduce symptoms of PMS
7. Prevent the free radical damage that underlies aging
8. Neutralize the damaging effects of mammograms, xrays and surgery
9. And much more
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151064631/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
RECEIVE ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS, ONLINE OR BY PHONE
The Life Extension Foundation has product advisors who can answer
questions about the products available or assist you in formulating your
nutritional program. To speak with a product advisor, call 1-800-226-2370
Monday through Saturday. You may also utilize Life Extension's online
chat feature Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern time.
Go to Life Extension's front page
http://www.lef.org/cgi-local/welcome.cgi/id=151064450/sgroup_id=699/welcome.
html
and click on "Chat with a product advisor" for live online assistance.
If you have questions or comments concerning this or past issues of Life
Extension Update or on any other life extension topics, email
ddye@lifeextension.com
For longer life,
Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
Life Extension Foundation
www.lef.org
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