Life Extension is a global authority on nutrition, health and wellness

An Explosion of New Life-Saving Information

Last month's 64 page LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE was not long enough to cover the explosion of new life-saving INFOrmation pouring out of the international medical data bases every week.

We encourage members with degenerative diseases who are not being treated effectively with conventional therapies to phone us for suggestions about scientifically based alternative therapies. The Foundation is in contact with innovative medical doctors and scientists throughout the world who offer well documented alternative therapies for degenerative, age-associated diseases, as well as the infirmaties of premature aging. Conventional medicine abandons people when they grow older, believing that little can or should be done for those who have a limited amount of time to live. The Life Extension Foundation, on the other hand, never gives up on anyone and is willing to take whatever measures are necessary to improve the quality and length of their life.

Never Say Die

The medical community is willing to accept the "inevitability" of death because of their refusal to deal with the horror of it all. Most of them are so insulated against the overwhelming personal tragedy of an individual's death that they passively accept vast numbers of deaths that occur because the FDA fails to permit patients to find out about alternative therapies that could save their lives!

The Life Extension Foundation refuses to accept conventional medicine's "nothing can be done" attitude. We never give up on anyone, no matter how old and sick they may be. As long as they want to fight, we continue to offer them advice about innovative therapies aimed at restoring them to health. Our 15-year track record of consistently being five to ten years ahead of mainstream medicine in our recommendations to our members speaks for itself.

Ginkgo And Heart Disease

Pharmaceutical-grade ginkgo biloba extract is now being studied extensively as a breakthrough drug to treat cardiovascular disease. Ginkgo is the most popular prescription drug in Germany. There are several grades of ginkgo sold on the American market, but only pharmaceutical grade ginkgo containing at least 6% terpene lactones has produced the multiple health benefits reported in the scientific literature.

If you take LIFE EXTENSION HERBAL MIX, you receive a potent daily dose of pharmaceutical-grade ginkgo and other herbal extracts that work synergistically to provide cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular protection. If you don't like taking LIFE EXTENSION HERBAL MIX powder, we suggest you obtain your ginkgo in capsule form.

The suggested dose for healthy people is one capsule of 120 mg of GINKGO daily. Those suffering from any form of vascular disease should consider taking two capsules daily.

Many Foundation members take two capsules daily of Life Extension's DMAE/GINKGO CAPS for neurological enhancement and for the overall antioxidant-vascular protecting benefits of ginkgo. Each capsule of DMAE/GINKGO contains 35 mg of DMAE and 60 mg of ginkgo along with B-complex vitamins.

Vitamin B6 And Alzheimer's Disease

Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy immune function and in neutralizing the atherogenic cholesterol metabolite, homocysteine.

In a new study published in Russia, derivatives of vitamin B6 inhibited the enzyme, acetylcholinesterase. As we grow older, acetylcholinesterase levels rise, which causes excessive destruction of the cognitive neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. The destruction of acetylcholine is a cause of aging-related mental decline and probably contributes to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's therapy THA works by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, but also produces side effects such as liver toxicity.

Since 80% of Americans are deficient in the FDA's ridiculously low RDA for vitamin B6 (2 mg a day), it's no wonder that we're faced with an epidemic of cognitive decline with aging. If you take LIFE EXTENSION MIX three times a day, you provide your body with a continuous supply of vitamin B6. It is important to take LIFE EXTENSION MIX throughout the day because vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that loses its effectiveness within five hours of ingestion.

Deprenyl And Brain Aging

Many Foundation members take low doses of deprenyl to prevent the destruction of dopamine-producing neurons and to maintain youthful dopamine levels in the brain. There is strong scientific evidence that deprenyl helps prevent Parkinson's disease and probably helps prevent Alzheimer's disease. There are now over 800 published studies on deprenyl showing that it protects many types of brain cells against aging and death.

In a new Russian study, deprenyl restored cognitive and motor functions when given to aged mice. Most notable was a significant increase in "investigatory activity" in aged mice given deprenyl, which suggests that deprenyl can increase the "general adaptation of the aged organism".

Since 1986, The Foundation has been recommending deprenyl as an anti-aging drug based upon studies showing significant lifespan extension when deprenyl is administered to rats and mice. Even though deprenyl was used safely in Europe in the 1970s, it took a tremendous effort to convince the FDA to "approve" it in 1989 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The irony of the FDA's approval of deprenyl is that by the time patients are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, they have already lost about 80% of their dopamine-producing neurons. That's why deprenyl only slows the progression of Parkinson's disease by less than a year. But if every American over the age of 45 began taking low dose deprenyl, the incidence of Parkinson's disease might well be reduced dramatically because of deprenyl's ability to protect brain cells against damage.

Narcolepsy Study

A study has shown that very high doses of deprenyl is beneficial in treating narcolepsy. deprenyl has been used to reduce narcoleptic attacks by 34% to 89%.

Growth Hormone And Osteoporosis

If you suffer from severe osteoporosis, we strongly urge you to consider a three to six month regimen of synthetic human growth hormone. There are more than 50 studies showing that the growth hormone decline in aging is a cause of osteoporosis, and that supplementation with growth hormone may be the single most important acute therapy to rebuild lost bone mass.

The FDA has driven up the cost of synthetic growth hormone to make it too high for most people, but scientific studies indicate that even a relatively brief period of growth hormone therapy can stimulate osteoblast cell activity in a way that synchronizes the youthful formation of bone mass.

For information about doctors who will administer the appropriate dose of growth hormone therapy, contact us at 1-800-226-2370.

Benefits Of Melatonin

We hope that most of our female members are already on an osteoporosis prevention program. A new study shows that melatonin helps to prevent osteoporosis. We know most of our female members are already taking melatonin because of evidence it can help prevent breast cancer and other cancers. One new study confirms the direct role melatonin plays in inhibiting the division of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells. Another new study confirms the fact that melatonin rhythmicity is suppressed in cancer patients.

In addition to calcium-magnesium-vitamin D supplements, women should consider using a natural progesterone cream as an additional hormone replacement therapy to protect against osteoporosis and estrogen-induced cancers. Transdermal progesterone creams penetrate the skin to provide 20 to 40 mg of supplemental natural progesterone every day. The most popular natural progesterone cream in the United States is PROGEST.

Melatonin And Sleep

Every week, we find new studies to further document that melatonin may be the most important antiaging supplement we can take.

A new study on melatonin's ability to improve sleep patterns adds to numerous previous studies showing that melatonin may be the safest and most effective anti-insomnia agent available.

We know that melatonin does not solve everyone's insomnia problem. Based upon a study showing that disturbed sleep patterns in the elderly are a higher risk factor for death than cigarette smoking, we strongly urge that anyone whose insomnia cannot be solved with melatonin seek psychological help. We believe that elderly people should seek aggressive therapy for sleep disturbances if Melatonin does not work.

Supplementation with 3-6 mg of Melatonin nightly helps the majority of insomniacs. Melatonin also improves the quality of sleep, enabling you to be better rested with fewer hours of sleep. Higher doses may be used with little risk of unwanted side effects.

Co-Q10 Reduces Surgical Complications

How often do you read about someone dying during or immediately after an operation from surgical "complications"? Death and disability, especially neurological deficits, occur more frequently than the profit hungry medical establishment wants you to believe.

Since 1980, The Life Extension Foundation has advocated that those who have to undergo surgery consume high doses of antioxidant and anti-ischemia vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which have been shown to reduce the incidence of surgical complications. In many cases, a doctor's unwillingness to prescribe I.V. drip vitamins has forced life extensionists to "smuggle" vitamins into the hospital to load up on them several days before their surgery.

There is sufficient scientific evidence to warrant high potency I.V. drips of antioxidants and anti-ischemia compounds including co-enzyme Q10 and acetyl-L-carnitine for every surgical procedure performed in this country. We believe that the failure of surgeons to provide their patients with such protection prior, during, and after surgery amounts to malpractice considering the fact that the medical journals have been publishing papers about the protective effects of these nutrients for more than a decade.

A new study has just been published showing that patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery can obtain significant benefits from pretreatment with coenzyme-Q10. Co-Q10 mitigates the amount of free radical damage that is a major complication of heart bypass surgery.

Beta-Carotene And HIV Infection

Many studies show that the severity of HIV infection is directly correlated with blood levels of specific vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Low levels of crucial nutrients are associated with immune deterioration, whereas higher levels of antioxidant nutrients appear to confer a protective effect against HIV-induced immune destruction.

In a recent French study, depleted blood levels of vegetable carotenoids and beta-carotene were associated with the most severe risk of HIV immune destruction.

There's strong scientific evidence that HIV positive individuals should take high doses of beta-carotene. There are many studies showing a beneficial effect of beta-carotene on overall immune function. However, if an HIV infected person has also been infected with hepatitis B (which is common), beta-carotene--even in moderate amounts--could cause liver enzyme elevations. We don't know the extent of liver damage that beta-carotene induced liver enzyme elevation may represent, but those who have had hepatitis B should monitor the effects of beta-carotene (and niacin) on liver enzyme levels. There are some victims of hepatitis B who may not be able to use beta-carotene because of previous liver damage. This is unfortunate because the immune-boosting effects of beta-carotene could be of significant benefit in keeping the hepatitis B (and HIV) viruses in remission.

New "Unapproved" Drug For Prostate Cancer

The Life Extension Foundation's protocol for prostate cancer includes at least six months of complete chemical hormone blockade therapy before surgery, radiation, or cryoablation therapies are considered.

Unlike most cancers, prostate cancer is extremely sensitive to hormonal modulation. This means that most men with prostate cancer can obtain a temporary reduction in tumor volume and activity by following our hormone blockade protocol. After only one or two months on complete hormone blockade, the sensitive PSA (prostate specific antigen) level, which is a measure of prostate cell activity, can drop below 1. (When a person is diagnosed with prostate cancer, a PSA range of 4-10 indicates probable early stage disease confined to the prostate sack. A reading over 11 indicates the possibility of metastasis beyond the prostate sack).

Anyone on hormone blocking therapy should have monthly PSA tests to make sure their prostate cancer is being controlled. Hormone blocking therapy can keep prostate cancer in remission for about four years, until the cells mutate and become refractory to the therapy. Some men discontinue hormone blocking therapy after six months if their PSA level falls to below 1. If and when their PSA level begins to rise again, complete hormone blockade is initiated again. Other men seeking a potential "cure" may consider cryoablation or enhanced ultrasound imaging radioactive seed implantation after at least six months of complete hormone blockade to reduce the size of the tumor and improve the odds of a cure. We believe that cryoablation or enhanced ultrasound imaging radioactive seed implantation may be superior in effectiveness and produce fewer side effects than conventional radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy.

There are two FDA approved drugs that should be used together to provide complete hormone blockade. The first drug, which is called Lupron, produces few side effects and is given by injection once a month by your doctor. At these monthly doctor visits, you should have a PSA test to make sure your hormone blocking therapy is working properly.

The other FDA-approved drug, which is called Flutamide, blocks androgen receptor sites on prostate cells. Flutamide can produce unpleasant side effects in some men (such as hot flushes, GI upset and loss of libido) and, as a result, many urologists prescribe only Lupron, when the scientific literature shows that the use of both drugs is most effective. If you cannot tolerate the side effects of Flutamide, we suggest you try to get enrolled in a clinical research program using the anti-androgen drug Casodex, or import Casodex from another country for your own personal use. The advantage of being in the research study is that the drug is often provided free of charge along with monthly PSA tests. The dose of Casodex you should take is 150 mg per day. Unlike Flutamide, libido and sexual activity are usually maintained and other side effects are rare.

The LIFE EXTENSION BUYERS' CLUB offers low cost pharmaceutical grade saw palmetto and/or pygeum extracts that should also be taken in addition to Lupron and Flutamide or Casodex. Saw Palmetto and pygeum extracts help to reduce dihydrotestosterone residue and uptake by prostate cells. Although saw palmetto and pygeum are effective in treating benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and possibly in preventing prostate cancer, they should not be used in place of Lupron and Flutamide or Casodex.

Healthy men over 40 should consider having a PSA blood test every 12 to 24 months (more often if prostate cancer is prevalent in your family). The older a man becomes, the more desirable it is to have annual and even semi-annual PSA tests. The government says it is too costly to use the PSA test for general screening since this will result in early treatment for men who may die of a cause other than prostate cancer. This socialistic attitude is diametrically opposed to The Foundation's position that the PSA test is the best early warning signal for the number two cause of cancer death in men. The PSA test is affordable, and early detection of prostate cancer results in a very high cure rate for a form of cancer that becomes highly lethal when detected in its late stages.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine

Scientists are experimenting with acetyl-L-carnitine as a treatment for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, immune dysfunction, heart disease, surgical complications, and normal aging. Highlights from recent articles include:

1) Acetyl-L-carnitine appears to reverse age-associated deficits in cellular function by increasing cellular energy production to regenerate and support aged cellular structures;

2) Acetyl-L-carnitine protects against lack of blood flow (ischemia) that may occur during surgery. Administration of acetyl-L-carnitine prior to and during surgery could reduce the risk of surgical complications;

L-Carnitine Lowers Fat And Cholesterol Levels

L-carnitine at the human equivalent dose of 20 grams a day has produced significant reductions in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids as well as a marked increase in serum HDL levels. People with uncontrollably high blood fat levels should consider a 10 to 20 gram per day dose of L-carnitine to see if these results can be duplicated. In contrast to FDA-approved cholesterol-lowering drugs that produce adverse side effects, high doses of L-carnitine produces side benefits, such as enhanced cognitive function and possible slowing of cellular aging.