The fact is, such a pill already exists.

Click on the underlined links above to learn more.

–Bill Sardi, ResveratrolNews.com

Ft. Lauderdale, FL (May 6, 2012) – There may be new found hope for patients whose vision is threatened when medicine injected directly into the eyes fails to cause abnormal blood vessels to recede. While injectable drugs called angiogenesis (an-gee-oh-jen-esis) inhibitors are considered a modern miracle and have become the standard of care for patients with the fast-progressive form of macular degeneration, they are not foolproof. For the first time researchers report that an oral nutriceutical, used on a last-resort clinical basis, rapidly restores vision to otherwise hopeless patients who face permanent loss.

Stuart Richer OD, PhD, Director, Ocular Preventative Medicine-Eye Clinic, James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, North Chicago, Illinois, says all other therapies were exhausted before employing the oral nutriceutical under compassionate-use protocols on a case-by-case basis. Usually most patients respond to medicine injected directly into the eyes, he says, but only about one in three patients recover driving vision and one in six patients go on to experience permanent vision loss and others may refuse needle injections directly into the eyes, making them candidates for this rescue medicine.

Three successfully treated cases were presented at the annual Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

One striking case is an 88-year old woman whom retinal specialists said was beyond any help offered by conventional medicines or surgery. The nutriceutical helped this hospitalized woman regain her ability to see faces, read a menu and visualize her handwriting in just 4 days. “As she was an in-patient, we noted that curiously that her systemic hypotension and 40 year history of migraines improved over the coming months of use”, according to Dr Richer.

In another case a 75-year old man with failing vision experienced recovery of vision in 5 days and was able to renew his driver’s license after taking just 7 nutriceutical capsules.

Dr. Richer says 16 of the first 17 cases responded positively to nutriceutical medicine. There were no side effects reported. Because these patients faced impending loss of vision, for ethical reasons no patients received inactive placebo pills. He says it is unknown whether this nutriceutical produces such positive results in the more common dry form of macular degeneration, but the benefit to vision is typically bilateral (both eyes) and self-evident.

Dr. Richer says in these first cases he has monitored, blind spots (called scotomas) disappear, time to recover from bright light (glare recovery test) is reduced, and contrast vision (shades of grey) as well as visual acuity (ability to see letters on a chart) generally improve within 3-6 weeks with the nutriceutical. “With our instruments we documented a more youthful appearance of the individual retinal layers, as well as the underlying circulation. “There were also these systemic improvements in some patients that were unanticipated.”

Only in recent years has there been a reliable way to treat wet macular degeneration, a disorder where abnormal blood vessels invade the visual center (macula) of the eyes. Any of three FDA-approved drugs, Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea, are needle-injected into the white of the eye to diminish the formation of these abnormal blood vessels. These are considered miracle drugs. Re-treatment is usually necessary every six to eight weeks. However, since these drugs are not foolproof, an oral formulation was employed with measurable success.

Dr. Richer selected a particular nutriceutical mixture of vitamins and small herbal molecules (Longevinex®) because of its extensive testing, publications and its proven ability to favorably alter genes in a superior manner to other available nutriceuticals. Dr. Richer cautions that other similar store-bought products are not likely to produce the same rapid results seen among his patients. He advises patients not to risk their vision with unproven products. Nor should patients consider this oral medicine supplants injected medicine.

While the nutriceutical used in this report is non-prescription and directly available to patients and could be used alongside injected drugs, Dr. Richer advises physician consultation prior to its use. “It still remains unproven until it is evaluated in broader studies” says Dr. Richer who adds: “the new science of epi-genetics suggests that age-related eye problems may not be inevitably progressive and biological age is not necessarily cast in stone.” There is new-found hope for recovery of lost vision, regardless of the patient’s age.

Dr. Richer has no financial interest in the products used in his investigations. To learn more, or donate – visit Dr. Richer’s website at www.eyedoctorricher.com ####

Contact:

Stuart Richer, OD, PhD, FAAO

Director, Ocular Preventive Medicine- Eye Clinic
James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center – North Chicago
3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064-3095
T 224-610-7145 Cell 847 409-4131

Associate Professor, Family & Preventive Medicine
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science – North Chicago

Assistant Clinical Professor, UIC Dept of Ophthalmology and Visual Science – Chicago

Abstract Body:

Purpose:

Spontaneous remissions from age related macular degeneration (AMD) suggest the human retina has large regenerative capacity, even in advanced age. In 2009, we reported resolution of 5 measures of visual function in an 80-year old male with dry AMD placed on a stabilized low-dose resveratrol (RV+) based supplement: (Richer SP, Stiles W. Molecular Medicine in Ophthalmic Care. Optom 2009; 80: 695- 71).

Methods:

The OTC supplement resveratrol+ was suggested to multiple patients with dry and wet AMD, who progressed on AREDS II type supplements or refused intra-vitreal injections. Patients were clinically followed with high resolution 10 raster SD OCT (OptoVue) & vision function tests:

Results:

We present 3 notable observations of short-time-frame dramatic improvement in retinal anatomy.

• CASE 1 (Top): 75 y/o with Age-related macular degeneration left eye, foveal occult membrane with restored retinal architecture and better visual acuity in 5 days and a driver’s license after 7 days.
• CASE 2 (Middle): 86 y/o with medically unresponsive left eye retinal edema (swelling) , reads at 21 days and has 7 lines better visual acuity. Again, swelling subsides and vision rapidly improves.
• CASE 3 (Bottom): 88 y/o w age-related macular degeneration refusing medicine (Lucentis®) injection and sees faces and reads magazines at 14 days. Disrupted layers of the retina resolve and a normal foveal pit (visual focusing center) is re-established.

Conclusions:

Resveratrol+ is used in cardiology to prevent reperfusion injury. It was suggested to retinal patients because its components are known to ↓ Inflammation (COX-2, CRP); ↓ HIF-1 & VEGF genes (microRNA 21, 20b, 539); ↑ Nrf2 endogenous antioxidants (glutathione); ↓ Blood clotting (platelet stickiness); ↑ Vasodilation (nitric oxide); ↑ Metal chelation (iron, copper); ↓ Oxidation, peroxidation; ↓ Cell adhesion (platelets, microbes, tumor) and ↓ Calcification (i.e. Bruch’s membrane). Octogeneraian AMD patients who take 1 oral capsule of RV+ per day often quickly demonstrate anatomic retinal regeneration as well as bilateral improved vision.

View left to right, cases 1, 2 & 3 described above. Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) digital images reveal rapid restoration of normal or more youthful retinal architecture accompanied by marked improvement in visual acuity.

Dr. Thomas Netticadan
Canadian Centre for Agri-food Research
in Health and Medicine,
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Thank you for your comments published at Canadian Journal Physiology & Pharmacology regarding resveratrol research.  ( http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/y2012-065 )

Let it be said that:

1. University of Connecticut withdrew its online allegations against Dr. Das once confronted with inconsistencies in their 49-page summary about the alleged scientific fraud.
2. Investigation into the allegations solely involve with western blot images that deal with mechanisms involving resveratrol-induced cardioprotection and do not invalidate the conclusion that resveratrol, in an unusual way apart from aspirin or statin drugs, protects the heart prior to an adverse event.
3. The bar charts that quantify the western blot findings were never in question, only the western blot images, which were enhanced at the request of journal editors for publication (visualization) purposes.  All of the online western blots displayed by the University of Connecticut involved enhanced images and the original images were not available for comparison.  There can be no fair evaluation without the original western blot images.  University of Connecticut seized Dr. Das’ computer and has failed to deliver the original western blot images for independent analysis to date.  Inexplicably, the university claims to have sent Dr Das their only disc of original western blot images, which he denies receiving.
4. University of Connecticut over-stepped by initially saying the allegedly enhanced western blot images invalidated all research involving cardioprotection by resveratrol.
5. The University of Connecticut is contacting journals to retract all of Dr Das’ articles published over a 40-year period, even though the original data involving these reports are not available as record storage is only required for 5 years.  It is impossible for Dr. Das to defend himself against allegations that involve research that was published years ago.  This suggests some sort of censorship or “book burning” exercise.  The university is out to erase good science, not just call into question western blot images.
6. The university allegations that Dr. Das fabricated science to gain research grant money is false on its face.  Dr. Das was pre-funded and very little NIH money was used in his research.
7. Dr. Das was not allowed to present evidence of an expert witness before a scientific review panel.
8. Inexplicably, 8 years after a Harvard scientist linked a red wine molecule with life extension in yeast cells, and red wine is widely known for its reduction in the risk for coronary artery disease death, and resveratrol as the key molecule in red wine, there has not been a single human clinical trial of resveratrol in cardiology.
9. Unknown parties entered false information to Wikipedia, claiming Dr. Das had been found guilty of 145-counts of scientific fraud before his final hearings before a scientific review panel.  Contrary to that Wikipedia report, the Office of Research Integrity at the NIH is not launching an independent review of Dr. Das’ work.   The university produced a 60,000 page document that included all of the allegations of scientific fraud which none of the review panel members or Dr. Das could possibly review in its entirety.
10. The university chose to conduct a press conference to air the allegations against Dr. Das when he was out of the country and unable to properly defend himself.  Only two news sources sought and published his side of the story (Retraction Watch and the Hartford Courant).
11. Dr. Das is unable to file a lawsuit against the university because it is immune from prosecution.  The university is defended by the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut.

Bill Sardi
Managing Partner
Resveratrol Partners LLC
Las Vegas, NV

Researchers in the experiment presented below show that hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂-)induced premature senescence in primary human keratinocytes (cells found in the outer layer of the skin/epidermis) can be prevented by AMPK activation. (AMPK is a master metabolic activating enzyme.)

Cells that are senescent are no longer capable of dividing and skin renewal. Thus, researchers found that: (1) a low dose of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂ 50 µM) activates two primary genes (p53 and secondarily p21)in these cells and subsequently increased SA-Galactosidase (SA-Ga1) activity, a marker of cellular senescence, and that (2) prior activation of AMPK by resveratrol prevented these H₂O₂-induced changes

PLoS One. 2012;7(4):e35092. Epub 2012 Apr 13.

Acute Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Prevents H(2)O(2)-Induced Premature Senescence in Primary Human Keratinocytes.

Ido Y, Duranton A, Lan F, Cacicedo JM, Chen TC, Breton L, Ruderman NB.

Source

Section of Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of AMPK on H(2)O(2)-induced premature senescence in primary human keratinocytes. Incubation with 50 µM H(2)O(2) for 2 h resulted in premature senescence with characteristic increases in senescence-associated ß-galactosidase (SA-gal) staining 3 days later and no changes in AMPK or p38 MAPK activity. The increase in SA-gal staining was preceded by increases in both p53 phosphorylation (S15) (1 h) and transactivation (6 h) and the abundance of the cyclin inhibitor p21(CIP1) (16 h). Incubation with AICAR or resveratrol, both of which activated AMPK, prevented the H(2)O(2)-induced increases in both SA-Gal staining and p21 abundance. In addition, AICAR diminished the increase in p53 transactivation. The decreases in SA-Gal expression induced by resveratrol and AICAR were prevented by the pharmacological AMPK inhibitor Compound C, expression of a DN-AMPK or AMPK knock-down with shRNA. Likewise, both knockdown of AMPK and expression of DN-AMPK were sufficient to induce senescence, even in the absence of exogenous H(2)O(2). As reported by others, we found that AMPK activation by itself increased p53 phosphorylation at S15 in embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), whereas under the same conditions it decreased p53 phosphorylation in the keratinocytes, human aortic endothelial cells, and human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. In conclusion, the results indicate that H(2)O(2) at low concentrations causes premature senescence in human keratinocytes by activating p53-p21(CIP1) signaling and that these effects can be prevented by acute AMPK activation and enhanced by AMPK downregulation. They also suggest that this action of AMPK may be cell or context-specific.

PMID:22514710

Full text of paper: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0035092

Furthermore, there is no drug that cures cancer (chemotherapy drugs only need to temporarily shrink a tumor by 50% before drug/tumor resistance sets in to gain FDA approval).

There is no single drug (diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium blockers) that adequately controls high blood pressure, and then none address the most common cause of hypertension (inability of blood vessels to dilate upon mental or physical exertion).

For example, there is no evidence that diuretics prescribed in their usual dose reduce risk for heart attack, stroke or death. (American Journal Medicine 2011 Oct;124:896-9)

Patients receiving diuretics (water pills) need an accompanying drug 79% of the time. (Journal Hypertension April 11, 2012) The most frequently prescribed beta blockers (atenolol and metoprolol) simply do not dilate blood vessels via nitric oxide as do more modern drugs. (Postgraduate Medicine 2012 Mar; 124(2):7-15)

Statin drugs do measurably lower circulating cholesterol numbers, but do not prevent mortal heart attacks (The Lancet 369: 168-69, 2007). Yet if patients inquire about their herbal equivalent (red yeast rice) they are informed it is unproven.

Aspirin prevents blood clots but at the risk of over-thinning the blood and creating bleeding gastric ulcers and brain hemorrhages, which represents disease substitution, not disease prevention. (The American Journal of Medicine, Vol 123, No 2, 101-102, February 2010)

Acetycholinesterase inhibitors Donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Nivalin, Razadyne, Razadyne ER, Reminyl, Lycoremine), and rivastigmine (Exelon) prescribed for Alzheimer’s disease work no better than placebo (PLos ONE April 2006), but if patients inquire about their herbal equivalent (huperzine), they are told it is unproven.

Alternative medicine is guilty of its own misdirection, attempting to copy ineffective prescription drugs with their herbal equivalents. The point here is that cholesterol may not be the primary culprit in arterial plaque and the lack of acetycholine may not be the primary problem in Alzheimer’s disease.

There are some herbal products however that modern medicine appears to be so fearful of that it simply refuses to put them to the test. One such herbal molecule is resveratrol (rez-vair-ah-troll), known as a red wine molecule, which has been shown in animal studies to prevent mortal heart attacks, block cancer at all three stages of development (something no anti-cancer drug has demonstrated), potentially restore vision to otherwise hopeless patients, properly addresses the primary cause of hypertension, and is the most promising anti-Alzheimer’s agent tested so far.

But modern medicine isn’t ready to adopt an unproven nutriceutical like resveratrol until it finds a way to cut itself into the equation financially. It is attempting to introduce re-arranged resveratrol-like molecules called analogs that will gain patents and become a blockbuster drug. The foot-dragging regarding resveratrol is appalling. In eight years since resveratrol dietary supplements have become widely available, not a single human clinical study has been launched for heart disease even though that is its primary calling.

The lack of medical ethics aside, physicians could begin to prescribe resveratrol as a dietary supplement for good health without making any claim as to its effectiveness to cure, treat or prevent disease. Dietary supplements are restricted to making claims they promote a healthy heart, eyes, arteries, brain, etc. But surprisingly health promotion is not a doctor’s primary objective. Doctors are in the “disease care” business, not the “health care” business. Doctors are not living up to their calling as the guardians of public health.

In fact, the Food & Drug Administration says if a molecule like resveratrol is proven to cure, treat or prevent disease by independent researchers even though manufacturers of resveratrol pills make no such claims, regardless of that fact, it is a drug. Which means the private enterprise system of medicine forces the most costly and problematic synthetic remedies upon the public. If a molecule like resveratrol comes along that would eliminate many of the blockbuster drugs now on the market, do you think modern medicine is going to put itself out of business?

The public, being oblivious to all these behind the scenes manipulations, continues to demand so-called miracle drugs that are paid for by health insurance plans. Patients don’t mind being bilked into taking ineffective and problematic drugs as long as insurance pays.

So the status quo reigns, patients suffer, insurance pools are drained of funds, and America nears insolvency. Maybe only a complete collapse of the health care system, forcing patients to care for themselves, would force Americans to search for alternatives like resveratrol.

Unfortunately, there are 350 brands of resveratrol pills to choose from ranging in dosage from 50 to 1000 milligrams per pill. Resveratrol works safely and effectively at a comparatively low dose (100-350 mg). Higher doses are potentially problematic. Only a few brands have been successfully tested in humans so far. Copyright 2012 Bill Sardi, ResveratrolNews.com Not for posting on other websites.

Like Dipak Das, PhD, the University of Connecticut researcher who was charged with over a hundred counts of scientific deceit in January of this year, both researchers stand accused of altering graphic images in their published papers. And in both instances, there is unequivocal evidence of altered images in these published papers. However, interpretation of whether these altered images represent honest mistakes or intentional trickery is a bit more difficult.

Both researchers, Das and Aggarwal, are noted for their work on herbal molecules; Das for the red wine molecule resveratrol and Aggarwal for his study of curcumin, the turmeric spice molecule.

There is suspicion that both of these researchers were singled out for review largely because the molecules they are researching just happen to pose the greatest threat to modern pharmacology. Curcumin and resveratrol could replace most modern medicines as they both exhibit broad biological action and activate a large number of genes.
Just coincidentally, investigation of Das’ and Aggarwal’s published papers come at a time when drug patents on blockbuster drugs are expiring and these nutriceuticals stand poised to replace them.

Generally, modern medicine discovers plant molecules, uses them as a template to make synthetic drugs, that are look-alike molecules called analogs, into patentable drugs and claim they work in a superior manner to what nature provides. But in this case, the analogs are costly and may not work as well. Modern medicine needs more cost effective medicine, not high-priced medicine. There is incentive to keep the many health benefits promised by resveratrol and curcumin in the scientific closet.

Consider that curcumin and resveratrol, two similar shaped small molecules of about the same molecular weight, block cancer in all three stages of development – initiation, growth and spread (metastasis). No cancer drug can make such a claim. Yet in the past decade there has not been one human study to put these molecules to the test for cancer.

Furthermore, both of these molecules are known to avert the development of drug/tumor resistance. Yet not one study has been planned to use them in combination with chemotherapy, even for helpless terminal cancer patients who have no other hope.

Resveratrol, known as a red wine molecule, has not undergone a single human clinical trial for heart disease in the past eight years even though heart disease is supposedly its primary calling. In animal studies, resveratrol turned mortal heart attacks into non-mortal events. Aspirin and statin cholesterol-lowering drugs only modestly prevent non-mortal heart attacks.

The purpose of the attacks on these researchers has not solely been to sanction them and banish them from further research, it has been to retract all of their published works from publication. It sounds like a covert book-burning and censorship campaign. However, none of the altered images would change the conclusions drawn by these published studies. The University of Connecticut over-stepped when it said the altered images in Dr. Das’ paper negated all of his findings about resveratrol.

A larger question is why there was no adequate peer review prior to publication of these images. These mistakes or deceptions are not supposed to make it past peer reviewers at scientific publications. Why are the researchers left to hang? If bogus science was detected it should have never gotten into print.

Also, most of the images in Dr. Das’ case were altered at the request of editors who demanded they be enhanced for publication purposes. In Dr. Aggarwal’s case, a number of images were sloppily published upside down or in the wrong order, but this was deemed to represent fraud. But again, the images in question simply wouldn’t alter the major findings of the study.

In the case of Dr. Das, some unidentified party at the university is sending requests to retract all of his published papers. Yet, when confronted, university representatives say they have no idea who is sending these demands. Science journals are obligated to retract papers when a university makes such a request. Dr. Das maintains the research his lab conducted is 99% accurate and he is refuting all allegations made against him in a private hearing taking place this week.

Stay tuned – we will all see where this is headed. It’s the repeat of a scenario well described in the 1953 Ray Bradbury novel entitled Fahrenheit 451. Copyright 2012 Bill Sardi Not for posting on other websites.

This is pretty convincing data though it is produced in the animal lab where mega-dose HFCS is given to provoke an adverse effect and where fairly strong concentrations of resveratrol are employed as a food additive. In limited human studies, such beneficial effects have not been measured as yet. But the day may come when soft drink bottles might say “Coca Cola with added resveratrol.” –Copyright 2012 Bill Sardi, ResveratrolNews.com

Food Chem Toxicol. 2012 Mar 23. [Epub ahead of print]

High-fructose corn syrup causes vascular dysfunction associated with metabolic disturbance in rats: Protective effect of resveratrol.

Akar F, Uludağ O, Aydın A, Aytekin YA, Elbeg S, Tuzcu M, Sahin K.

Source

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is used in many prepared foods and soft drinks. However, limited data is available on the consequences of HFCS consumption on metabolic and cardiovascular functions. This study was, therefore, designed to assess whether HFCS drinking influences the endothelial and vascular function in association with metabolic disturbances in rats. Additionally, resveratrol was tested at challenge with HFCS. We investigated the effects of HFCS (10% and 20%) and resveratrol (50mg/l) beverages on several metabolic parameters as well as endothelial relaxation, vascular contractions, expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), gp91(phox) and p22(phox) proteins and superoxide generation in the aortas. Consumption of HFCS (20%) increased serum triglyceride, VLDL and insulin levels as well as blood pressure. Impaired relaxation to acetylcholine and intensified contractions to phenylephrine and angiotensin II were associated with decreased eNOS and SIRT1 whereas increased gp91(phox) and p22(phox) proteins, along with provoked superoxide production in the aortas from HFCS-treated rats.Resveratrol supplementation efficiently restored HFCS-induced deteriorations. Thus, intake of HFCS leads to vascular dysfunction by decreasing vasoprotective factors and provoking oxidative stress in association with metabolic disturbances. Resveratrol has a protective potential against the harmful consequences of HFCS consumption.

Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

PMID: 22465803

The study is similar to a 12-week controlled trial where calorie restriction was compared to plain resveratrol and a commercially available mixture that included resveratrol (Longevinex®) published in 2008 [Experimental Gerontology] where it was shown that long-term calorie restriction activates 831 genes, short-term calorie restriction 198 genes, short-term resveratrol 225 genes, and short-term Longevinex 1711 genes. If these results are transferable to humans, then most consumers of resveratrol pills will only derive benefits after many months of use whereas a nutriceutical mix of molecules similar to that found in red wine produces a rapid genomic response. – Copyright 2012 Bill Sardi, ResveratrolNews.com

Abstract

Public Library of Science PLoS ONE March 2012 | Volume 7 | Issue 3 | e34289

Julia Marchal¹, Stéphane Blanc², Jacques Epelbaum³, Fabienne Aujard^1*, Fabien Pifferi¹

1 Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution, UMR 7179 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Brunoy, France, 2 Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Département d’Ecologie, Physiologie, Ethologie UMR 7178 CNRS Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France, 3 Centre de Psychiatrie et Neuroscience, UMR 894 Inserm, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France

Effects of Chronic Calorie Restriction or Dietary Resveratrol Supplementation on Insulin Sensitivity Markers in a Primate, Microcebus murinus

The prevalence of diabetes and hyperinsulinemia increases with age, inducing metabolic failure and limiting lifespan. Calorie restriction (CR) without malnutrition delays the aging process, but its long-term application to humans seems difficult. Resveratrol (RSV), a dietary polyphenol, appears to be a promising CR mimetic that can be easily administered in humans. In this work, we hypothesized that both CR and RSV impact insulin sensitivity in a non-human primate compared to standard-fed control (CTL) animals. Four- to five-year-old male grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) were assigned to three dietary groups: a CTL group, a CR group receiving 30% fewer calories than the CTL and a RSV group receiving the CTL diet supplemented with RSV (200 mg·day⁻¹·kg⁻¹). Insulin sensitivity and glycemia were assessed using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR index) evaluation after 21 or 33 months of chronic treatment. Resting metabolic rate was also measured to assess the potential relationships between this energy expenditure parameter and insulin sensitivity markers. No differences were found after a 21-month period of treatment, except for lower glucose levels 30 min after glucose loading in CR animals. After 33 months, CR and RSV decreased glycemia after the oral glucose loading without decreasing fasting blood insulin. A general effect of treatment was observed on the HOMA-IR (insulin resistance index), with an 81% reduction in CR animals and 53% in RSV animals after 33 months of treatment compared to control group. Chronic CR and dietary supplementation with RSV affected insulin sensitivity by improving the glucose tolerance of animals without disturbing their baseline insulin secretion. These results suggest that both CR and RSV have beneficial effects on metabolic alterations, although these effects are different in amplitude between the two anti-aging treatments and potentially rely on different metabolic changes.

Sci Transl Med. 2012 Mar 21;4(126):126ra34.

Prostaglandin d2 inhibits hair growth and is elevated in bald scalp of men with androgenetic alopecia.

Garza LA, Liu Y, Yang Z, Alagesan B, Lawson JA, Norberg SM, Loy DE, Zhao T, Blatt HB, Stanton DC, Carrasco L, Ahluwalia G, Fischer SM, Fitzgerald GA,Cotsarelis G.

Source

Department of Dermatology, Kligman Laboratories, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Abstract

Testosterone is necessary for the development of male pattern baldness, known as androgenetic alopecia (AGA); yet, the mechanisms for decreased hair growth in this disorder are unclear. We show that prostaglandin D(2) synthase (PTGDS) is elevated at the mRNA and protein levels in bald scalp compared to haired scalp of men with AGA. The product of PTGDS enzyme activity, prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)), is similarly elevated in bald scalp. During normal follicle cycling in mice, Ptgds and PGD(2) levels increase immediately preceding the regression phase, suggesting an inhibitory effect on hair growth. We show that PGD(2) inhibits hair growth in explanted human hair follicles and when applied topically to mice. Hairgrowth inhibition requires the PGD(2) receptor G protein (heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide)-coupled receptor 44 (GPR44), but not the PGD(2) receptor 1 (PTGDR). Furthermore, we find that a transgenic mouse, K14-Ptgs2, which targets prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 expression to the skin, demonstrates elevated levels of PGD(2) in the skin and develops alopecia, follicular miniaturization, and sebaceous gland hyperplasia, which are all hallmarks of human AGA. These results define PGD(2) as an inhibitor of hair growth in AGA and suggest the PGD(2)-GPR44 pathway as a potential target for treatment.

PMID: 22440736

Planta Med. 2004 Apr;70(4):305-9.

Resveratrol inhibits the release of mediators from bone marrow-derived mouse mast cells in vitro.

Baolin L, Inami Y, Tanaka H, Inagaki N, Iinuma M, Nagai H.

Source

Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China. NJLBL55@SOHU.com

Abstract

Resveratrol is a natural phytoalexin occurring in grapes, vines and peanuts and possesses both antitumor and antioxidation capabilities. Its chemoprotective actions are attributed partially to its anti-inflammation effect. The present study is aimed at checking the inhibitory actions ofresveratrol on the release of mediators from bone marrow-derived mouse mast cells (BMMC) in vitro. Mast cells were prepared by isolating bone marrow cells from intact mice femora and culturing them for 4 weeks in the presence of IL-3 and FCS. The release reaction was triggered by IgE or calcium ionophore (A23187). Mediated by IgE, the release of histamine and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was significantly inhibited by resveratrol at a concentration of 100 microM; IgE-mediated release of leukotrienes and prostaglandin D (2) was also strongly suppressed at concentrations of 100 and 10 microM. Also, A23187-mediated release of histamine and leukotrienes release was strongly reduced by resveratrol at concentrations of 100 and 10 microM, respectively. Resveratrol exhibited its behavior without a significant cytotoxic activity against mast cells. In conclusion, resveratrolis a potent non-selective inhibitor of mediator release from activated mast cells and deserves further investigation of its biological modulations.

PMID: 15095144

Despite all the research, the confirmation of the first anti-aging pill has been elusive if for no other reason than the impracticality of conducting a long-term study to validate such an idea. The only conclusive evidence would be a long-term (many decades long) study. Many thousands of people would have to be followed for 8-10 decades to produce convincing data.

But a recent 5-year study of 10,889 middle-age human subjects may be as close as researchers will get, and a long-known vitamin may have slid in front of resveratrol as the front-runner in the race to confirm a bona fide anti-aging pill.

There has been concern that a costly anti-aging pill would become an elitist product but the cost of this vitamin ranges from free to a few pennies a day, certainly making it affordable for the masses.

The said vitamin is really a sun-derived hormone — cholecalciferol, made in human skin via exposure to solar ultraviolet-B radiation. It is commonly called vitamin D3.

The recent study referred to above, published in The American Journal of Cardiology, reveals all-cause mortality was 164% higher among those with vitamin D deficiency while use of vitamin D supplements were associated with a 61% increase in survival.

Alarmingly, the cut-off for deficiency was a blood level of 30 nanograms per milliliter of blood and 70.3% of the study population fell below this mark, meaning the lives of most Americans are being cut short by a shortage of a single vitamin-like hormone.

The best diet will not significantly raise blood levels of this vitamin and a person would have to over-eat to reach vitamin D sufficiency. Advice to avoid strong exposure to the sun to prevent skin cancer combined with humans spending more time indoors operating computers, as well as lack of solar radiation in northern climates during winter, suggests dietary supplementation is the simple route to remedy this problem.

Experts like John Cannell MD, founder of The Vitamin D Council, thinks current science points to an optimal healthy blood level of vitamin D in the range of 50-60 nanograms, so we simply don’t know what the top end of the survival curve would look like if adults consistently achieved blood levels in that range. In other words, humans may live even longer than this study reveals if they can maintain optimal blood concentrations that are only achieved by outdoor workers such as lifeguards, roofers and agriculture workers.

Furthermore, vitamin D appears to overcome concerns that an anti-aging pill will only prolong years of misery in old age. Contrarily, vitamin D promises to promote independent living in the latter years of life.

Longevity seekers can read an abstract of the most recent vitamin D study here:

© 2012 Bill Sardi, Knowledge of Health, Inc. Not for posting on other websites.

The American Journal of Cardiology

Volume 109, Issue 3, 1 February 2012, Pages 359–363

Vitamin D Deficiency and Supplementation and Relation to Cardiovascular Health

James L. Vacek, MD, MSc^a,, Subba Reddy Vanga, MBBS^a, Mathew Good, DO^a, Sue Min Lai, PhD^b, Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD^a, Patricia A. Howard, PharmD^c

1. Mid America Cardiology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center and Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas
2. University of Kansas Medical Center School of Public Health, Kansas City, Kansas
3. Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, Kansas City, Kansas

Recent evidence supports an association between vitamin D deficiency and hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. The effect of vitamin D supplementation, however, has not been well studied. We examined the associations between vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplementation, and patient outcomes in a large cohort. Serum vitamin D measurements for 5 years and 8 months from a large academic institution were matched to patient demographic, physiologic, and disease variables. The vitamin D levels were analyzed as a continuous variable and as normal (≥30 ng/ml) or deficient (<30 ng/ml). Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, multivariate analysis, survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazard modeling were performed. Of 10,899 patients, the mean age was 58 ± 15 years, 71% were women (n = 7,758), and the average body mass index was 30 ± 8 kg/m². The mean serum vitamin D level was 24.1 ± 13.6 ng/ml. Of the 10,899 patients, 3,294 (29.7%) were in the normal vitamin D range and 7,665 (70.3%) were deficient. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with several cardiovascular-related diseases, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, and diabetes (all p <0.05). Vitamin D deficiency was a strong independent predictor of all-cause death (odds ratios 2.64, 95% confidence interval 1.901 to 3.662, p <0.0001) after adjusting for multiple clinical variables. Vitamin D supplementation conferred substantial survival benefit (odds ratio for death 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.277 to 0.534, p <0.0001). In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency was associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular disease and reduced survival. Vitamin D supplementation was significantly associated with better survival, specifically in patients with documented deficiency.