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Update Exclusive 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.)
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| Protocol
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
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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
1100 West Commercial Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale FL 33309
954 766 8433 extension 7716
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