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LE Magazine May 2002
Pet nutrition, food allergies,
plus...
Q Why does the Life Extension Cat Mix
contain arachidonic acid? I heard that it promotes
inflammation.
A Humans create arachidonic
acid from linoleic acid (found in vegetable oil). Cats cannot
create arachidonic acid from linoleic acid (they don't
naturally eat vegetables). They are strict carnivores and must
have animal fat in their diet to supply arachidonic acid
directly. This is why Life Extension included it in the
supplement. Studies show that arachidonic acid is very
beneficial, not to mention essential, for cat nutrition. The
source that is used in the cat supplement is egg yolk, a good
source of essential fatty acids for the carnivorous cat. Many
commercial cat foods contain very little meat, and hence very
little of this essential nutrient.
Q I am currently using the new Gamma E and
CoQ10, both of which contain tocotrienols and palm oil. I am
nervous about taking all of that palm oil-isn't it bad for
you?
A These two products do not
contain any palm oil. The tocotrienols are derived from the
oil and the rest is discarded. Unlike other sources of
tocotrienols, palm oil yields much higher levels of the delta
and alpha fractions. Studies suggest that palm oil
tocotrienols are far more effective than tocopherols. Studies
show that gamma- and delta-tocotrienols derived from palm oil
exhibit a strong activity against tumor promotion [Int J
Cancer 1994 May 15;57(4):529-31].
Q Could the chelating properties of
carnosine, over the long term, result in undesirable side
effects such as zinc and copper deficiency?
A Carnosine does not pull
zinc and copper from tissues within the body and therefore
long-term use will not cause a deficiency of these minerals.
Carnosine chelates free zinc and copper from the synaptic
junction within the brain. Copper and zinc are though to
modulate synaptic transmission, but are rapid neurotoxins at
the concentrations reached when they are released from
synaptic terminals. The brain then must buffer these metals so
they can perform their functions without neurotoxicity.
Carnosine provides that buffering action and can rescue
neurons from zinc and copper mediated neurotoxicity [Brain
Res(2000 Jan 3) 852(1):56-61].
Q My wife and I both take melatonin, DHEA
and CLA. We want to be sure that we are taking a strong
antioxidant. Are the above okay or do you have another product
that would be more beneficial?
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A Melatonin is a good
antioxidant, but different antioxidants have different
properties and therefore work on various cellular sites within
the body. Your best bet would be to take a wide mix, which
includes vitamins A, B, C, E, raspberry extract, calcium
D-glucarate, labiatae extract, bilberry, grape-seed, lutein
and more. These are all potent antioxidants, antimutangenic
agents. In addition, ingredients like the raspberry extract
(called ellagic acid) and calcium D-glucarate prevent binding
of carcinogens to DNA and reduce the incidence of cancer in
cultured human cells exposed to carcinogens. Other documented
benefits of ellagic acid include protection from radiation,
wound healing and reductions in chemically induced liver
fibrosis. You can get all of these supplements together in one
formula called the Life Extension Mix. Besides being a basic
multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, the Mix contains a wide
variety of antioxidants that affords a considerable degree of
protection against free radicals. Read more
about Life Extension Mix.
Q I suffer from post-traumatic epilepsy
(scar tissue on the right side of the brain), and currently
take tegretol retard (400 mg, twice a day). I find that after
drinking milk I feel light-headed-almost preseizure type
sensations. Is this due to something in the milk?
A Your reaction to milk
could very well be allergies. Researchers have found that
allergies can manifest in the brain and trigger seizures.
Simply avoiding the offending food can decrease seizure
activity. Interestingly, one of the common offending foods is
milk. All people with epilepsy should undergo thorough allergy
testing. For more information on epilepsy, please refer to the
protocol on the website, www.lef.org. If you are under a
doctor's care, please inform him of any supplements or advice
you receive from The Foundation.
Q Given the recent evidence about the
correlation between vitamin A (the acetate form) and
osteoporosis, will the Life Extension Mix be changed to
include an all beta carotene?
A The study you are
referring to implies that vitamin A in doses over 7,000 IU,
taken without vitamin D, was linked to osteoporosis. The Mix
contains only 5,000 IU of vitamin A and contains 300 IU of
vitamin D. Given the fact that the sick and elderly have a
harder time converting beta carotene to vitamin A and can
become deficient, The Foundation does not plan to completely
remove vitamin A from the Mix.
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