“I want LONGER Telomeres” Oprah Winfrey -November 1 st, 2007 Long Telomeres Short Telomeres.
Telomeres: The Real Biologic Clock
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Transcript of Telomeres: The Real Biologic Clock
Unlocking the Secrets
Of the Telomere
Dr. Al Sears, MD
The First Step to Reverse Aging
“Harnessing the telomere is the MOST important
event in the history of anti-aging
medicine”
True“Age-Reversing Therapy”
• My own theory.
• The link between telomeres and aging.
• Shortened telomeres and age-related loss.
The “Tipping Point” that Will Change
Life on This Planet Forever
• 30 years ago, no one understood HOW or WHY we age... Most believed that we never would.
• As the field of Gerontology advanced, so did the number of theories.
• In light of telomere biology, we realize the so called “causes” of aging were really the “consequences” of aging.
Theories on Why We Age:
Disposable Soma Theory – We just temporarily house our Genes. Oxidative Stress Theory – Free radicals cause damage to cells. Vital Substance Theory – A vital substance is limiting. Genetic Mutation Theory – Accumulation of mutations cause
aging. Reproductive Exhaustion Theory – After reproduction we die
rapidly. Aging by Design Theory – Aging is programmed. Mitochondrial Dysfunction Theory – Mitochondria become
altered. The Neuroendrocrine Theory – Changes in hormone regulation. Wear and Tear Theory – Self explanatory The Rate of Living Theory – Similar to the Vital Substance
Theory The Waste Product Accumulation Theory – Self explanatory The Cross-Linking Theory – Proteins such as collagen crosslink. The Immune System Theory – Decreased immune function. Errors and Repairs Theory – Inaccurate repair of damage. The Order to Disorder Theory – Decreased maintenance of order. Telomere Theory of Aging – Telomere length controls aging.
What Really Causes Aging?
Leonard Hayflick
Cell division is a finite biological function and is inexorably tied to the aging process
“Hayflick Limit” describes the number of times a cell can divide
Hayflick was the first to suggest the relationship between cell division and mortality, but did not know the connection to telomeres.
What are Telomeres?First described in 1975 by Elizabeth Blackburn, who recently earned a Nobel Prize for her discovery.
Telomeres are found at the end of all eukaryotic chromosomes.
Telomeres protect the chromosome from the replication-related loss of genetic info.
Telomeres
How Do We Know?From “Hayflick’s Limit,” we know that human cell lines have a “built-in mortality.” That means there’s an internal “authority” that sets the limit on cell division and shuts down the cell line causing death when the limit is reached.
Today we know that mechanism is the telomere.
Once we understood the role of the telomere, the next observation revealed younger cells have longer telomeres, and older cells have shorter telomeres.
Young Cells Have Long Telomeres...
Old Cells Have Short Telomeres
Two Studies Published in the Journal “Nature” in 1990 Provided Strong Evidence:
Telomeres get shorter with age, with losses ranging from between 30 and 150 nucleotide pairs per replication, depending on cell type.
Cell division/telomere shortening continues until a critical telomere length is reached, at which point the cell is forced into senescence (death) and can no longer replicate.
Cell death prevents replication of incomplete or damaged DNA.
Harley CB, Futcher AB, Greider CW (1990) Telomeres shorten during ageing of human fibroblasts. Nature 345:458–460
Vaziri H, Schachter F, Uchida I, Wei L, Zhu X, Effros R, Cohen D, Harley CB (1993) Loss of telomeric DNA during aging of normal and trisomy 21 human lymphocytes. Am J Hum Genet 52:661–667
Can You Make a Cell Older By Shortening Its Telomeres?
The next step was to see what would happen if you took a young cell with long telomeres and artificially shortened them.
If you could make a cell age faster than normal by shortening its telomeres, that would be the next link in proving the “age” of the cell is dependent on the length of the telomere.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Artificial Shortening the LongTelomeres of Young Cells ACCELERATES
Aging
Artificially Shortening the LongTelomeres of Young Cells ACCELERATES
Aging
In a groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that when they shortened the telomeres of young, healthy mice, they triggered a host of problems we associated with old age.
In short, by making their telomeres shorter and therefore “dysfunctional,” they were able to artificially create signs of aging. And they made these changes to mice who were otherwise enjoying the vitality of youth.
So then we knew there was some causal relationship.
There’s a cause and effect between short telomeres and aging that we can prove. In addition, we found that we can create the signs of aging simply by shortening the telomere artificially.
Telomeres Tell Cells How Old They Are
Telomeric mediation of gene expression may explain the relationship between telomere length and aging.
Cells with longer telomeres behave like younger cells.
Cells with shorter telomeres behave like older cells.
Diseases Affected By Telomere Shortening
• Cardiovascular• Cancer• COPD• Degenerative Disc
Disease• Alzheimer’s• Osteoarthritis• Rheumatoid Arthritis • Osteoporosis• General Immunity• Skin Aging• Macular Degeneration• Liver Cirrhosis
• Muscular Dystrophy• Cell & Tissue Transplants • AIDS• Progeria• Dyskeratosis Congenita• Idiopathic Pulmonary
Fibrosis• Cri du Chat syndrome • Down’s Syndrome• Fanconi’s Anemia• Tuberous Sclerosis• Werner’s Syndrome• And, Aging Itself???????
Length of the Telomere as Controlling Mechanism of
Aging
Hundreds of published, peer-reviewed studies show the relationship between telomere length and markers of disease, life span and quality of life.
Telomere Length and All-Cause Mortality
Telomere length was assessed in 143 healthy men and women >60 years of age
Individuals with the shortest telomeres had significantly decreased survival rates:
3 times greater risk of dying from heart disease8.5 times greater risk of dying from infectious disease
Cawthon RM, Smith KR, O'Brien E, Sivatchenko A, Kerber RA. Association between telomere length in blood and mortality in people aged 60 years or older. Lancet. 2003 Feb 1;361(9355):393-5.
Relationship Between Telomere Length and Age-Related Conditions
* *
*
T/S
rati
o
** = p< .05
Atzmon G, Cho M, Cawthon RM, Budagov T, et al. Evolution in health and medicine Sackler colloquium: Genetic variation in human telomerase is associated with telomere length in Ashkenazi centenarians. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jan 26;107 Suppl 1:1710-7.
Telomere Length & Dementia
Nurses’ Health Study
62 women, > 70 years of age
Controlled for: age, education, smoking history, cardiovascular
disease, hypertension, cholesterol levels, and diabetes
telomere length below the median:
12-times greater risk of being diagnosed with
dementia
9.6-times greater risk of being diagnosed with mild
cognitive impairment.Grodstein F, van Oijen M, Irizarry MC, Rosas HD, Hyman BT, Growdon JH, De Vivo I. Shorter telomeres may mark early risk of dementia: preliminary analysis of 62 participants from the nurses' health study. PLoS One. 2008 Feb 13;3(2):e1590.
Rela
tive
telo
mere
/sin
gle
gen
e r
ati
o
Telomere Length & Cardiovascular Disease
674 Caucasian males
Measured mean telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number (T/S ratio)
Found that decreased T/S ratio was significantly associated with risk of MI
log
e-t
ran
sform
ed
T/S
rati
os
Zee RY, Michaud SE, Germer S, Ridker PM. Association of shorter mean telomere length with risk of incident myocardial infarction: a prospective, nested case-control approach. Clin Chim Acta. 2009 May;403(1-2):139-41.
M/I No M/I
Telomere Length: A Crucial Indicator of Health and
Longevity
Telomere length is:
A marker for cell age
A predictor of longevity
A predictor of age-related disease
How Do We Slow the Loss of the Telomere?
Factors that accelerate telomere shorteningHomocysteineInflammationOxidationDepressionEmotional StressPhysical Trauma
Factors that slow telomere shortening
Telomerase activators
Stop Accelerated Telomere Loss by Lowering
Homocysteine
Multiple studies have shown that elevated homocysteine is associated with short telomeres.
In one study, elevated homocysteine tripled the rate of shortening.Bull CF, O'Callaghan NJ, Mayrhofer G, Fenech MF. Telomere length in lymphocytes of older South Australian men may be inversely associated with plasma homocysteine. Rejuvenation Res. 2009 Oct;12(5):341-9.
Richards JB, Valdes AM, Gardner JP, Kato BS, et al. Homocysteine levels and leukocyte telomere length. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Oct;200(2):271-7.
Nutrient Protocol for Lowering Homocysteine
Vitamin B12: 500 mcg
Folic Acid: 800 mcg
Vitamin B6: 25 mg
Riboflavin (B2): 25 mg
Trimethylglycine (TMG): 500 mg
Preservation of Telomeres with Vitamin C: In Vitro Evidence
• In 1998, researchers at the Hiroshima Prefectural University in Japan added Vitamin C in the form of Asc-2-O-phosphate (Asc2P) to human vascular endothelial cells.
• They measured a slowdown of age-dependent telomere shortening of 52-62%.
• Telomerase activity underwent an age-dependent decline which was significantly slowed by Asc2P.
• Researchers concluded that age-dependent telomere-shortening was decelerated by both suppression of intracellular oxidative stress and by telomerase retention
Furumoto K, Inoue E, Nagao N, Hiyama E, Miwa N. Age-dependent telomere shortening is slowed down by enrichment of intracellular vitamin C via suppression of oxidative stress. Life Sci. 1998;63(11):935-48.
Preserve Telomere Length with Vitamin C:
In Vivo Evidence
Vitamin levels were assessed in 586 women aged 35-74
Analysis controlled for age, overall health, BMI, smoking, stress level, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
Women in the 4th quartile of vitamin C intake had significantly longer telomeres relative to women in the 1st quartile.
1st Quartile 4th Quartile
Mean
Telo
mere
Len
gth
(B
P)
Xu Q, Parks CG, DeRoo LA, Cawthon RM, Sandler DP, Chen H. Multivitamin use and telomere length in women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jun;89(6):1857-63.
Stress in the Workplace Causes
Shortening of the Telomere
1st Quartile 4th Quartile
Damjanovic, et al., J Immunol. 2007 Sep 15;179(6):4249-54
Depression Causes Shortening of the
Telomere
Simon, et al., Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Sep 1;60(5):432-5.
Reducing Stress Slows the
Loss of the TelomereChronic stress has been shown to accelerate telomere shortening.
After adjusting for age and various health/behavioral factors, women with the highest stress levels had the shortest telomeres.
The degree of telomere shortening correlated to a minimum of a full decade of again
Ave
rag
e T
/S
Rati
o
High Stress Low Stress
Epel ES, Blackburn EH, Lin J, Dhabhar FS, Adler NE, Morrow JD, Cawthon RM. Accelerated telomere shortening in response to life stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Dec 7;101(49):17312-5.
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
Slows Telomere Shortening
Superoxide dismutase is a naturally occurring cellular antioxidant that aids the immune system cells in killing or deactivating invading microorganisms.
In human fibroblasts with low antioxidant capacity, increasing cellular superoxide dismutase activity slowed telomere shortening and increased the life span of the cells.
Serra V, von Zglinicki T, Lorenz M, Saretzki G. Extracellular superoxide dismutase is a major antioxidant in human fibroblasts and slows telomere shortening. J Biol Chem. 2003 Feb 28;278(9):6824-30.
Maintain Telomere Length with Omega-3
Fatty Acids
Farzaneh-Far R, Lin J, Epel ES, Harris WS, Blackburn EH, Whooley MA. Association of marine omega-3 fatty acid levels with telomeric aging in patients with coronary heart disease. JAMA. 2010 Jan 20;303(3):250-7.
The Right Exercise Increases
Telomerase Activity
Murine modelVoluntary running for 3 weeks induced:
A 2.9-fold increase in aortic telomerase activity A 3.3-fold increase in telomerase activity in circulating mononuclear cells in the spleen
Human model Compared to controls, pro athletes exhibited:
2.5-fold increase in telomerase activity in young athletes1.8-fold increase in telomerase activity in middle-agedWerner C, Fürster T, Widmann T, Pöss J, et al. Physical exercise prevents cellular senescence in
circulating leukocytes and in the vessel wall. Circulation. 2009 Dec 15;120(24):2438-47.
Keeping Telomeres Long
Right Exercise
Anti-Oxidants Omega 3’s Vitamin D3 Don’t Smoke
Weight Management
Reduce Stress Reduce Depression Reduce Pessimism Be Happy!
The History-Making Story of Telomerase
Telomerase is the enzyme responsible for re-building telomeres.
Telomerase activity is observed in fetal tissue, adult germ cells, and tumor cells.
Telomerase is “turned off” in all other cells.
Activation of Telomerase Has Been Shown To:
1. Immortalize cells
2. Reverse the age of tissue
3. Reverse aging in whole organisms
Telomerase Can “Immortalize” Cells
Study published in the journal Science:
Human cells were encoded with the human telomerase gene (hTERT).
Control cells showed telomere shortening, as well a marker of cell death.
Telomerase+ cells had longer telomeres.
By the time the study was published, the telomerase+ cells had exceeded their expected lifespan by 20+
replications.
Bodnar AG, Ouellette M, Frolkis M, Holt SE, et al. Extension of life-span by introduction of telomerase into normal human cells. Science. 1998 Jan 16;279(5349):349-52.
Telomerase Restores Youthful Markers in Live Tissue
Normal human dermal fibroblasts were transfected with hTERT and then grafted onto mouse skin.
Mice grafted with telomerase-negative control cells exhibited phenotypic signs of senescence (increased fragility, reduced levels of collagen I and III, and subepidermal blistering).
Mice grafted with telomerase+ cells exhibited a youthful phenotype, despite the same number of replications.
Funk WD, Wang CK, Shelton DN, Harley CB, Pagon GD, Hoeffler WK. Telomerase expression restores dermal integrity to in vitro-aged fibroblasts in a reconstituted skin model. Exp Cell Res. 2000 Aug 1;258(2):270-8.
“The results were strikingly unequivocal. The telomeres in cells with hTRT lengthened, and
the cells themselves kept on multiplying, through the Hayflick limit and well
beyond.
At the time the papers were submitted they had made 20 or more extra divisions, yet they looked young, vigorous and essentially norma
l.”
Bodnar AG, Ouellette M, Frolkis M, Holt SE, Chiu CP, Morin GB, Harley CB, Shay JW, Lichtsteiner S, Wright WE. Extension of life-span by introduction of telomerase into normal human cells. Science. 1998 Jan 16;279(5349):349-52.
Can You REVERSE the Signs of Aging by Artificially Lengthening
the Telomere?
Markers in Live TissueAfter establishing:
Young cells have long telomeres and old cells have short telomeres; And proving you can accelerate the signs of aging by artificially shortening the telomere...
The next step was showing that if we turn on the telomerase, the enzyme that REBUILDS the telomere, we can slow the shortening of telomeres in a cell. And in some cases make them longer.
If the theory help up, that would mean you could actually REVERSE the signs of aging by artificially lengthening the telomere.
And that’s what happened during a recent Harvard study.
Harvard Researchers Demonstrate How Telomerase can Reverse
Aging In a Whole Organism
Harvard Researchers Demonstrate How Telomerase can Reverse
Aging In a Whole Organism
A Groundbreaking Study...
Harvard Medical School Professor, Ronald DePinho, used the TERT-ER mouse to demonstrate the profound effect of telomerase activation on age management.
TERT-ER mice have short dysfunctional telomeres and are deficient in telomerase.
4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OTH) is used to induce telomerase in TERT-ER mice.
Jaskelioff M, Muller FL, Paik JH, Thomas E, et al. Telomerase reactivation reverses tissue degeneration in aged telomerase-deficient mice. Nature. 2010 Nov 28
Mice with Short Telomeres
Were Aged and Atrophied
Decreased survivalTERT-ER mice: 43.5 versus
Telomere-intact mice: 86.8 weeks
Widespread tissue atrophyDecreased brain weight/hypomyelination
Testicular atrophy/decreased testicular sizeSplenic atrophy
Intestinal crypt depletion/villous atrophy
Decreased fertility
Decreased olfactory discrimination (common aging marker in mice)
Aging Brain Restored to Normal Size
Reversed cerebral atrophy
Reversed hypomyelination
Restored white matter structures
Elongated telomeres in the corpus callosum
Neural progenitor cells were reactivated
TERT-ERTelomerase activated
Bra
in w
eig
ht
(mg
)
P=0.02
Testicular Atrophy is Reversed and Fertility is Restored
P=0.0001
TERT-ER Telomerase activated
Test
es
weig
ht
(g)
Other Organs Were Also Restored
Similar results were seen in the spleen and the intestines.
Performance on olfactory discrimination tasks was restored to youthful levels.
“When we flipped the telomerase switch on and looked a month later, the brains had largely returned to normal.”
-- Dr. Ronald DePinho commenting on his groundbreaking Harvard study
Telomerase Activity Predicts Longevity in Humans
Multi-generational study of Ashkenazi Jews with exceptional longevity
Parent group (n = 86; average age of 97 years)Offspring group (n = 175)
Control group (n = 93)
Found that the population exhibited abnormally high telomerase activity, mediated by a mutation of hTERT – a catalytic subunit of telomerase.
Results link human longevity with telomerase activity
Atzmon G, Cho M, Cawthon RM, Budagov T, et al. Evolution in health and medicine Sackler colloquium: Genetic variation in human telomerase is associated with telomere length in Ashkenazi centenarians. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Jan 26;107 Suppl 1:1710-7.
Telomerase Activity Has Positive Impact On Adult Stem Cells
“The real targets for [Telomerase Activators] are the adult stem cells scattered throughout our body, which
are required for regenerating and repairing our organs and tissues.
Activating telomerase in populations of adult stem cells can extend their function and help promote
organ repair and regeneration.”
--Bryant Villeponteau, PhD. [ex-Geron Corporation, ex-Sierra Sciences] on-line post to Dr. Stephen Coles and the Gerontology Research Group 1/16/11
Telomerase Activity Has Positive Impact On Adult Stem Cells
“The real targets for [Telomerase Activators] are the adult stem cells scattered throughout our body, which
are required for regenerating and repairing our organs and tissues.
Activating telomerase in populations of adult stem cells can extend their function and help promote
organ repair and regeneration.”
--Bryant Villeponteau, PhD. [ex-Geron Corporation, ex-Sierra Sciences] on-line post to Dr. Stephen Coles and the Gerontology Research Group 1/16/11
How to Activate Telomerase Now...
Assessment of Telomere Length
Repeat Diagnostics: First and only CLIA Certified laboratory in the world to provide cell type specific telomere length measurements. www.repeatdiagnostics.com
Spectracell: Uses “whole blood” sample. Does not differentiate between lymphocytes and granulocytes. www.spectracell.com
Life Length: Founded by Dr. Maria Blasco, Director of the Spanish National Cancer Institute. First to measure percentage of critically short telomeres. www.lifelength.com
The Search for the First Telomerase Activator
Back in the early 1990s, an entrepreneur named Michael West heard about the amazing breakthroughs in telomere biology at an anti-aging conference.
Convinced of its effectiveness and place in history, Michael started the Geron Corporation with the vision of bringing the first commercially available telomerase activator to the public.
Geron Corporation
Discovered a process to extract a very rare molecule that is found in tiny amounts in the Chinese herb Astragalus and they named the molecule TA-65.
Patented the sequence of the telomerase genome and granted license to TA-Sciences to sell TA-65.
Dr. Bill Andrews: As Director of Molecular Biology at the Geron Corporation from 1992 to 1997 was one of the principal discoverers of the components of human telomerase.
Telomerase Activation: TA-65®
TA-65®
Naturally-occurring, highly purified single molecule derived from the Chinese herb Astragalus
Activates the hTERT gene
In vitro: moderately activated telomerase in keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and immune cells
In vivo: orally administered in doses of 10-50 mg/day for 12-months
Harley CB, Liu W, Blasco M, Vera E, Andrews WH, Briggs LA, Raffaele JM. A natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program. Rejuvenation Res. 2011 Feb;14(1):45-56.
Astragalus tragacantha (ssp. Vicentinus)
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Subfamily: Faboideae Tribe: Galegeae Genus: Astragalus
Results of TA-65®
Following 1-year on TA-65 ®, we observed a significant decrease in the percent of critically-short telomeres.
TA-65® Reduces Number of Damaged Immune
Cells
A study published in the September 7, 2010 issue of the journal Rejuvenation Research, showed TA-65 significantly reduced...
Senescent cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells...
With a significant reduction in the number of cells with short telomeres (<4 kbp; p = 0.037).
Harley, C., Weimin L., et al, “A Natural Product Telomerase Activator As Part of a Health Maintenance Program,” Rejuvenation Research 2010
By Activating TelomeraseTA-65® Produces Younger
Cells
Researchers at TA Sciences tested a group of people and measured the number of white blood cells that looked old, and the number that looked young. Then the people started taking TA-65®.
After three months, they were found to have a ratio of young-looking cells to old-looking cells that someone would have if they were 20 YEARS YOUNGER.
Harley, C., Weimin L., et al, “A Natural Product Telomerase Activator As Part of a Health Maintenance Program,” Rejuvenation Research 2010
TA-65® in My Own Practice
First doctor licensed to administer TA-65.
53 patients following TA-65 protocol since August 2008.
You Can Have Your Telomeres Tested
Repeat Diagnostics: First and only CLIA Certified laboratory in the world to provide cell type specific telomere length measurements. www.repeatdiagnostics.com
Spectracell: Uses “whole blood” sample. Does not differentiate between lymphocytes and granulocytes. www.spectracell.com
Life Length: Founded by Dr. Maria Blasco, Director of the Spanish National Cancer Institute. First to measure percentage of critically short telomeres. www.lifelength.com
Case Study: Michael
Michael recently turned 62 but has the clinically documented “pulmonary age” of a 24-year old.
Michael’s “neurological age,” is only 44, a sign he has the brainpower of a much younger man.
Michael had other remarkable changes including better eyesight, lower cholesterol and dramatically higher testosterone.
Case Study: Michael
All that extra energy helped him win at the recent North American Grappling Association Championship. In the space of one hour, Michael won two first place titles against men who were twenty years his junior.
In Michael’s own words:
“With TA-65 I lost 20 pounds, increased my muscle mass and flexibility, eliminated joint pain I’ve had for years and miraculously made the inside of my body younger.”
Patient M.F.Patient M.F.Age 58 to 61Age 58 to 61
Baseline 6M 12M 18M 24M 30M
Biological Marker Age 56 52 52 43 51 44
Patient M.F.Patient M.F.Age 58 to 61Age 58 to 61
Baseline 6M 12M 18M 24M 30M
Age Quotient 103 111 113 137 117 138
Dr. Sears Age 51
• Initial Telomere Length August 08, 2008
– Mean Telomere Length = 7.65 (kb)
Telomere Biologic Age = 35
Chronologic Age = 51
Age Quotient = 146
Dr. Sears Age 56
October 30, 2012 Mean Telomere Length = 8.4 kb
Telomere Biologic Age = 21
Chronologic Age = 56
Age Quotient = 267
Dr. Sears Age 51 to 56
Baseline Current
Biological Marker Age 35 21
Dr Sears Results to Date
• Baseline Telomere A/Q = 146• Telomere A/Q October 30, 2012 = 267• Telomere Age Quotient Increased by
83%• Reversed Age-Associated Shortening
of Telomere• An Example of Anti-Aging
Dr. Sears Age 51 to 56
Baseline Current
Age Quotient 146 267
New Breakthroughs in Telomerase Activation
New research uncovered at least 123 nutrients, vitamins and other natural compounds that have the ability to “turn on” telomerase in the human genome.
Not only are these nutrients proven effective, they’re more affordable than TA-65.
Today, telomerase therapy is more accessible than ever before.
Silymarin Boosts Telomerase Activity by
300% This herbal extract is effective for detoxification but was recently discovered to activate telomerase.
Published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, researchers discovered Silymarin:
Increased telomerase activity 3-fold; Reduced the number of senescent cells, and Increased the activity of endothelial progenitor cells by up to 64% Parzonko, Andrzej MSc; Naruszewicz, Marek PhD. Silymarin Inhibits Endothelial Progenitor Cells' Senescence and Protects Against the Antiproliferative Activity of Rapamycin: Preliminary Study. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology: December 2010. Volume 56, Issue 6. pp 610-618
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
This potent amino acid is a building block of your body’s primary antioxidant called glutathione (GSH).
Published in the journal Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, researchers discovered NAC turns on the human telomerase gene.
“Chronic exposure to NAC can delay senescence of diseased endothelial cells via hTERT activation and transient telomere
stabilization...”
Guillaume V, et al. Chronic treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine delays cellular senescence in endothelial cells isolated from a subgroup of atherosclerotic patients. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, Volume 129, Issue 5, May 2008, Pages 261–270.
Gamma Tocotrienol
One of the four lesser-known forms of vitamin E, gamma tocotrienol can, “modulate the length of the telomere possibly via telomerase.”
From their study published in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, the researchers concluded that after being exposed to gamma tocotrienol for just 24 hours...
“...telomere lengths of treated cells appear to have been roughly 16% longer than controls after only this very short
period of exposure.”
Suzana Makpol, et al. Gamma-Tocotrienol prevents oxidative stress-induced telomere shortening in human fibroblasts derived from different aged individuals. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 3(1); Jan-Feb 2010.
Resveratrol
By activating telomerase, this well-known anti-aging nutrient from red wine increases the number of endothelial progenitor cells. These vital cells make repairs to damaged blood vessels.
According to the lead researcher from the study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology:
“Resveratrol significantly increased telomerase activity...”
Xia, L. Wang XX, et al. Resveratrol reduces endothelial progenitor cells senescence through augmentation of telomerase activity by Akt-dependent mechanisms. Br J Pharmacol. 2008 October; 155(3): 387–394.
Green Tea Extract (EGCG)
The extract of green tea, EGCG, has a powerful effect on telomeres.
In a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the telomeres of green tea drinkers were about 0.46 kilobases longer.
This average difference in the telomere length corresponds to, “approximately a difference of five years of life.”
Chjan R, Woo J, Suen E, Leung, Tang N. Chinese tea consumption is associated with longer telomere length in elderly Chinese men. Br. J Nutr. 2010 Jan;103(1):107-13. Epub 2009 Aug 12.
Ginkgo Biloba Extract
Originally known as a brain booster because it helps open up blood vessels, there’s new evidence from a study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology that:
“...ginkgo biloba extract significantly increased telomerase activity...”
Ginkgo helps prevent the loss of the telomere by activating telomerase in the sensitive cells that line your blood vessels known as the endothelium. Dong, X, et al. Ginkgo Biloba reduces endothelial progenitor cell senescence through augmentation of Telomerase activity. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology. Feb 2007, vol.49, issue 2, pp. 111-115.
Vitamin D3 and Folic AcidFamous for it’s ability to increase immune function and prevent cancer, vitamin D also activates telomerase.
One very recent study from the International Journal of Obesity showed vitamin D increased telomerase activity by 19.2%.
Folic acid is one of the B vitamins I prescribe to help stop the loss of your telomeres. And it’s one of five nutrients used to get rid of excess homocysteine that builds up in your blood stream when you’re antioxidant levels start to drop.
A study from the Journal of Nutrition suggests folic acid stimulates the activation of telomerase.
Zhu H, Guo D, Li K, Pedersen-White J, Stallmann-Jorgensen IS, Huang Y, Parikh S, Liu K, Dong Y. Increased telomerase activity and vitamin D supplementation in overweight African Americans. Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Jun;36(6):805-9.
Paul L, et al. Telomere length in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is associated with folate status in men. J Nutr. 2009 Jul;139(7):1273-8.
Dr. Al Sears, MD
Wellness Research Foundation 11903 Southern Blvd., Ste. 208
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 866-792-1035
www.alsearsmd.com