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| Enjoy your resveratrol . . . Cheers |
I was catching up on my reading this week and read an
interesting paper, Dietary lipophilic
antioxidants: Implications and significance in the aging process, by Chong-Han[1]. In his paper he reviews the critical role of
dietary antioxidants and suggests that coenzyme Q10, flavonoids, resveratrol,
and Vitamin E all show promise in extending human life.
To review, antioxidants are substances that reduce oxidative
damage in cells caused by free radicals. You know how iron rusts and that rust
weakness iron structures. That is an
example of oxidation. The same thing
happens to us when free radicals produced when our bodies break down food or environmental
toxins like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals are responsible for
aging, tissue damage, and diseases like heart disease and cancer. If you want to live long and live well then control the antioxidants in your body.
Coenzyme
Q10 (aka CoQ10) is the only known antioxidant that
is synthesized by the body. CoQ10 reduces oxidative damage thus lowering
cardiovascular risk and inflammation and consequently extending life . It also
prevents photo-aging of the skin and may offer protection caused by simvastatin
therapy[2].
Q10 is the primary physical attribute found in longer-living mammalian species,
including human beings. CoQ10 is found in fish and the germs of whole grains, like wheat germ. I don't eat enough of either one so I take a CoQ10 supplement every day.
Flavonoids are the most common group of polyphenolic compounds in the
human diet and are found mostly in plants.
Eat a pretty (colorful) diet to get a good supply of flavonoids. Another good source is green tea. Green
tea supplementation has been found to protect against oxidative stress and can
increase antioxidant ability in rat brain. The green tea catechin prevents
damage in aging mouse brain and liver damage in rats caused by aging and
ethanol. Another flavonoid, anthocyanins, has also shown protection against
vascular disease. The best sources of flavoring include berries (organic cherries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and cranberries are my favorites), green
tea, and virtually all fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices.
Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound found in grapes, red wine, purple
grape juice, peanuts, and some berries. The "French Paradox[3]"
and from controlled studies point to its effectiveness in extending life[4]. Resveratrol has also been associated with improved bone
density, motor coordination, cardiovascular function, delaying cataracts and
retarding aging. On a personal note my wife has a healthy, 98-year-old relative
in Buenos Aires, Argentina, who claims that his good health is due to a glass a
day of red wine.
Vitamin E is one of the most widely researched antioxidants. Like vitamin A, it has been shown to extend life in mice when initiated in early years. Vitamin E may protect older healthy individuals against atherogenesis, the formation of thick plaque of cholesterol and other lipids in arterial walls, improve relearning ability, and reduce cancer formation. In addition to supplementation, organic sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, olives, spinach, papaya, swiss chard, mustard greens.
Vitamin E is one of the most widely researched antioxidants. Like vitamin A, it has been shown to extend life in mice when initiated in early years. Vitamin E may protect older healthy individuals against atherogenesis, the formation of thick plaque of cholesterol and other lipids in arterial walls, improve relearning ability, and reduce cancer formation. In addition to supplementation, organic sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds, olives, spinach, papaya, swiss chard, mustard greens.
[1] Chong-Han, K. (2010). Dietary lipophilic antioxidants:
Implications and significance in the aging process. Critical Reviews
in Food and Nutrition, 50, 931-937.
[2] Simvastatin (INN) is a hypolipidemic drug used
to control elevated cholesterol. It is a member of the statin class of pharmaceuticals. Simvastatin is a synthetic
derivative of a fermentation product of Aspergillus terreus. The drug is marketed generically following the patent
expiration, and under the trade name Zocor.
[3] The French paradox refers to the fact that although
the French consume three times as much saturated fat as Americans, one-third
less French people die from heart attacks and obesity than American people.
[4] Liu, BL; Zhang,
X; Zhang, W; Zhen, HN (December 2007). "New enlightenment of French Paradox:
resveratrol's potential for cancer chemoprevention and anti-cancer
therapy.". Cancer biology & therapy 6 (12): 1833–6. doi:10.4161/cbt.6.12.5161.PMID 18087218.
