Coenzyme Q10 enhances vitamin E’s reduction of inflammatory marker in primates
A report published in the September 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (http://www.ajcn.org/) revealed that a combination of the antioxidant nutrients vitamin E and coenzyme Q significantly reduced C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammatory status, in adult baboons. Inflammation is recognized as an early process in cardiovascular disease, and oxidative stress can contribute to it.

Thirteen male and eight female baboons maintained on a low fat and cholesterol diet were subsequently provided with a diet that was high in fat and cholesterol for seven weeks. Following this period, the animals were divided into four groups, three of which were supplemented with a different amount of vitamin E, and one who received no vitamin E for two weeks. Lastly, coenzyme Q10 was added to the supplementary regimen for an additional two weeks. Blood tests were conducted with each dietary phase.

Predictably, the addition of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 to the baboons’ diets elevated serum levels of these nutrients. Total antioxidant status, a measurement of the overall antioxidant capacity of blood serum, was significantly increased by vitamin E, and further increased by a slight amount with the addition of coenzyme Q10.

When C-reactive protein levels were analyzed, vitamin E was found to lower levels of the marker to an average of less than half of presupplementation levels. When coenzyme Q10 was added to vitamin E, C-reactive protein levels were reduced to 30 percent of levels measured at the beginning of the study.

In the discussion of their findings, the authors called the results “remarkable” given that the animals did not have an inflammatory condition at the time of the study. They conclude that “cosupplementation with vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 significantly enhanced both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant protection. These effects may in turn help protect against vascular diseases.” (Wang XL et al, “Cosupplementation with vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 reduces circulating markers of inflammation in baboons,” Am J Clin Nutri 2004;80:649-55.)

Chronic Inflammation
Chronic systemic inflammation is an underlying cause of many seemingly unrelated, age-related diseases. As humans grow older, systemic inflammation can inflict devastating degenerative effects throughout the body (Ward 1995; McCarty 1999; Brod 2000). This fact is often overlooked by the medical establishment, yet persuasive scientific evidence exists that correcting a chronic inflammatory disorder will enable many of the infirmities of aging to be prevented or reversed.

The pathological consequences of inflammation are well-documented in the medical literature (Willard et al. 1999; Hogan et al. 2001). Regrettably, the dangers of systemic inflammation continue to be ignored, even though proven ways exist to reverse this process. By following specific prevention protocols suggested by the Life Extension Foundation, the inflammatory cascade can be significantly reduced.

A critical inflammatory marker is C-reactive protein. This marker indicates an increased risk for destabilized atherosclerotic plaque and abnormal arterial clotting. When arterial plaque becomes destabilized, it can burst open and block the flow of blood through a coronary artery, resulting in an acute heart attack. One of the New England Journal of Medicine studies showed that people with high levels of C-reactive protein were almost three times as likely to die from a heart attack (Ridker et al. 1997).

Those who are in relative good health, but have elevated C-reactive protein, can try to lower it using a variety of diet modifications, supplements and/or drugs. Supplements such as vitamin E, borage oil, fish oil, DHEA, vitamin K and nettle leaf extract can lower C-reactive protein. Diets low in arachidonic acid, omega-6 fatty acids, saturated fats, high-glycemic food and overcooked food can suppress inflammatory factors in the body.

If diet and supplements fail, drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, pentoxifylline or one of the statins (such as Pravachol®) should be tried. If the modified diet, nutrients and/or drugs lower C-reactive protein to below 1.3 (mg/L) of blood, then this is an indication that the underlying inflammatory fire has been extinguished. (The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein blood test is recommended to measure this indicator.)

http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-146.shtml

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Life Extension Magazine July 2004 issue

Report: The fires within

Life Extension has long warned about the lethal consequences of chronic inflammation. Now the mainstream news media are finally catching up. As this TIME® magazine article notes, new research on inflammation could radically change doctors’ concepts of what makes us sick.

By Christine Gorman and Alice Park

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/jul2004_report_time_01.htm

Questions? Comments? Send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or call 954 766 8433 extension 7716.

For longer life,

Dayna Dye
Editor, Life Extension Update
ddye@lifeextension.com
LifeExtension.com
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954 766 8433 extension 7716

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