Anti-aging Flashcards
What causes the ageing process?
Free radicals or Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are involved in the ageing process and the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.
What protective nutrients are primarily important in health ageing?
Antioxidants e.g. Beta carotene, Selenium, Vitamin E and C
Which is the body system that has been shown to interact with brain function to limit the effects of gut toxins?
Gastro-intestinal
With regards to Alzheimer’s diseaseW, which part of the brain is affected influencing cognition and memory?
Hippocampus
Which 4 specific nutrients are known to be beneficial in the degenerative condition of Alzheimer’s?
- DHA a structural essential fatty acid
- Antioxidants to keep free radicals under control
- Gingko Biloba to protect cell membranes from oxidation and to improve blood flow
- B vitamins for their role in neurotransmitter production
- Vitamin E for protective role in various neurological disorders and disorders
What dosage of Vitamin E has been suggested for Alzheimer’s sufferers?
1000iu twice daily
What is DMAE and how is it helpful in supporting brain function?
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) works by accelerating the brain’s synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which in turn plays a key role in maximising mental ability as well as in preventing loss of memory in ageing adults.
What is myelin?
The fatty insulation around nerve cells
What is multiple sclerosis and what causes it?
Multiple sclerosis means literally ‘many scars’.
Plaque formation causes the myelin to get destroyed.
The cause is unknown although theories suggest auto-immune reactions, genetic, viral infection could be involved.
What supplements would you consider a priority to recommend for a MS sufferer?
- DHA - a brain essential fatty acid
- Flaxseed oil - additional essential fatty acids and reducing inflammatory prostaglandins
- Selenium to help reduce lipid oxidation
- Alpha Lipoic Acid - for neurological support
- Vitamin B12 - to help protect myelin from breaking down
What is Parkinson’s disease?
A slow degenerative neurological disorder.
Characterised by a loss of dopamine producing cells deep within the brain stem, resulting in a deterioration of motor function and muscular control.
What supplements would you consider a priority to recommend for someone with Parkinson’s disease?
- Antioxidants to keep free radicals under control.
- Vitamin E - specific to neural protection.
- Alpha Lipoic Acid - prevent oxidative stress in nerve tissue and helps maintain glutathione levels.
- CoQ10 - to help reduce cellular damage and assist mitochondrial function.
- Green tea and/or Pycnogenol - rich in antioxidant polyphenols that can cross the blood-brain barrier
- Milk Thistle - to help the liver in cleansing the body’s tissues and in turn reduce circulating neurotoxins
What is DHEA?
An important anti-aging hormone, shown to diminish with age
Which nutrient has been shown to reduce insulin levels and so increase DHEA levels?
Chromium
Aside from the brain, what is the next most important organ to look after?
The heart and supporting cardiovascular system
Which nutrients are important to reduce the ageing process in the heart and arteries?
- Vitamin C - supports adrenals and vascular flexibility
- Vitamin E - modulates nitric oxide (NO) reactions
- Magnesium - blocks calcium entry into heart and muscle cells
- Potassium - improving blood pressure
- Garlic - lowering cholesterol, tryglycerides and blood pressure
- Flaxseed oil - lowering blood pressure
- Reserveratrol - a natural inhibitor of angiotensions 2, a powerful peptide that causes contractions of the blood vessels.
- CoQ10 - lowers blood pressure and stabilises the vascular system
- OPC’s found in Pycnogenol reduce arterial damage
Which nutrients are important to manage the skin ageing process?
- Acerola - high in Vitamin C and mineral salts
- DMAE - prevents breakdown of the cell plasma membrane and protects against free radical damage
- OPC’s found in Pycnogenol protect against free radical damage (50x greater than Vitamin C or E)
Which nutritional oil provides an ideal ratio of omega 3:6:9 and helps stimulate the optimum formation of hair, skin and nails?
Hemp seed oil
Note. Also found to have positive effects on eczema
Why might Zinc be helpful in the management of acne?
Zinc is required for the effective release of Vitamin A from liver storage. Vitamin A is a highly beneficial nutrient in acne treatment.
What nutrients are important for hearing loss?
Possibly caused by free radical formation in the cochlea, Vitamin A, C and E act in synergy with Magnesum to effectively prevent noise induced hearing loss.
Gingko Biloba is commonly used in treatment of tinnitus
What nutrients are important for cataracts?
Deficient glutathione levels are associated with these conditions. Nutrients to increase glutathione levels include ALA, Vitamins E and C and Selenium.
Cataract patients also tend to be deficient in Vitamin A, lutein and zeaxanthin.
What nutrients are important for glaucoma?
Vitamin C, Lipoic acid, Vitamin B12, Magnesium and Melatonin.
Gingko Biloba increases circulation to the optic nerve
Forskohlii (an extract from Coleus Forskohlii) has been used successfully as a topical agent to lower intra-ocular pressure (IOP)
How might you supplement Lutein for someone suffering with cataracts?
6mg of lutein per day from food (green leafy vegetables including kale and spinach)
Lutein in supplemental form should be taken with fat containing food to improve absorption
