1. Mitochondrial Optimizers:

a.  Alpha lipoic acid  helps in the conversion of food to energy in the mitochondria. A byproduct of this energy production is toxic oxidants or free radicals.  ALA is a potent antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals and converting old, inefficient mitochondria to ones with a more youth-like behavior.  ALA binds to insulin receptors and activates a life-saving pathway, and helps diabetics with peripheral neuropathy. 

b.  Acetyl L Carnitine carries fatty acids across membrane barriers into mitochondria where the fat is converted to energy, and also carries toxic products out of the mitochondria, improving efficiency.  As we age our energy level declines and this parallels a decrease in plasma L-carnitine.  The ambulatory activity of old rats doubled with ALC.  ALC in animal studies protects the brain from damage by free radicals, especially the hippocampus, important in short term memory.  ALC has a positive effect on cognitive function with its ability to stimulate neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine.  Juvenon sells ALA and ALC in a single pill. 

c.  Co-Enzyme Q10 is vital for the transfer of electrons in the mitochondria thus increasing ATP levels.  CoQ10 is a strong free radical scavenger.  In patients with Parkinson's disease who took CoQ10 there was up to 44% less functional decline, and also reduces migraine frequency.  CoQ10 demonstrated a decrease in total cardiac events in patients who had had a myocardial infarction.  CoQ10 may help avert breast and prostate cancer, improve blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetics, and reduce endothelial dysfunction.  Be sure to obtain ubiquinol rather than ubiquinone.  Ubiquinol is 6 to 8 times as bioactive as ubiquinone, and is a patented product from a Japanese company, Kaneka.

2.   Resveratrol is found in red grapes and other plants and mimics caloric restriction, activating the sirtuin or longevity genes.  In mice studies resveratrol increases insulin sensitivity, lowers blood sugar, enhances mitochondrial energy production and improves motor performance.  Resveratrol is a free radical scavenger, inhibits oxidation of LDL, and raises glutathione levels, an endogenous antioxidant.  Many genetic pathways are affected; resveratrol opposes the genetic changes induced by a high calorie diet.  Resveratrol reduces endothelial dysfunction and platelet clumping, and has anti-cancer properties.  Resveratrol reduces chronic inflammation.  Brain nerve cells are protected against beta-amyloid which accumulates in Alzheimer's.  Osteoporosis is reduced.  

3. Anti-Inflammatory:

a. Curcumin is derived from turmeric, or yellow curry.  In India the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is less then one-quarter that of the U.S.  In AD beta-amyloid protein accumulates to form plaques, with associated nerve cell loss.  In animal and laboratory experiments curcumin inhibits the formation of the plaques and disassembles them.  Curcumin is a strong antioxidant and has strong anti-inflammatory properties, including blocking     the pro-inflammatory pathways of nuclear factor kappa beta, COX and LOX.  Curcumin has anti-cancer properties and can block DDT, dioxin and other toxic chemicals from entering cells.  Curcumin causes apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in cancer cells but not normal cells, and also stops cancer cells from multiplying.  Angiogenesis in tumors is inhibited.  The safety profile of curcumin is excellent.  Curcumin is often sold with bioperine to increase absorption.

b.   Carnosine protects against cross-linking of proteins and sugars and formation of AGE's, which protects the brain and reduces skin wrinkling, and also reduces skin aging caused by collagen cross-linking. Carnosine protects the brain from excitotoxicity and damage to neurons, and binds copper and zinc thus reducing plaque formation in Alzheimer's. Carnosine has strong anti-oxidant properties.  Carnosine declines dramatically in our muscles as we age, and carnosine enables muscles to contract more efficiently including the heart.  The usual dose is 500 mg. bid to overcome carnosinase, an enzyme that destroys smaller amounts of carnosine.

c. Pycnogenol is an extract from pine trees which grow along the coast of southwest France and has strong anti-inflammatory properties.  A recent study concerning osteoarthritis demonstrated average reductions of C Reactive Protein from 3.9 to 1.1, under 1.0 being very good.  Pycnogenol improves memory in the elderly, reduces diabetic complications, and reduces cardiovascular risks. The usual dose is 50 mg. twice a day.

    Please consult with your physician before taking any supplement and check for any cross-actions with prescription drugs or other nutritional supplements.  No specific medical advice is given to any individual; this website is informational only.