Author Archives: Editor

Vitamin E – researchers cast doubt over role as antioxident

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Vitamin E does not protect against heart attacks and cancer and might actually raise the risk of heart failure in people with diabetes or clogged arteries, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association claims.

The study examined whether vitamin E pills protect against heart attacks and cancer. Echoing other recent findings, it found no benefit against those conditions.

Dr Eva Lonn, a McMaster University cardiology professor who led the study, said it is unclear how vitamin E pills might be linked with heart failure, but she believed that high doses might disturb the balance of beneficial, naturally occurring antioxidants.

Vitamin E has been credited, in recent decades as a powerful weapon against ageing, capable of protecting against everything from wrinkles to cancer and dementia. Preliminary research over the past 15 years has suggested that antioxidants fight the harmful effects of oxygen, warding off blood-vessel damage and cell abnormalities that can lead to cancer.

About 12 percent of U.S. adults — more than 20 million people — take vitamin E pills containing the same dose used in the study, and about 40 percent — almost 80 million — use supplements containing some amount of vitamin E, according to the industry.

Research released last week on nearly 40,000 healthy women showed no heart benefits from vitamin E pills. And a study reported at an American Heart Association conference in November found that people taking high doses were 10 percent more likely to die of any cause than those taking smaller amounts.

The study involved 7,030 patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease other than heart failure.

Patients 55 and older who took about 400 milligrams of vitamin E every day for about seven years on average were 13 percent more likely to develop heart failure than those on dummy pills. Heart failure was diagnosed in 641 vitamin E patients, compared with 578 patients in the placebo group.

The dosage was typical of vitamin E pills widely available at health food stores and pharmacies but well above the recommended 15 milligrams daily for adults, which can be obtained from food.

Lonn said the findings pertain only to vitamin pills, not a diet containing vitamin E-rich foods, including nuts and leafy green vegetables.

”I don’t think our study rules out in any way that a balanced diet rich in antioxidants would actually be beneficial,” she said.

The study ”effectively closes the door” on the theory that high doses have a major protective effect against cancer and narrowing of the arteries, University of Washington health specialists Dr. B. Greg Brown and John Crowley said in an editorial.

The study found no differences in the incidence of or deaths from breast, colon, prostate, oral and gastrointestinal cancer. The researchers said a slightly lower incidence of lung cancer in vitamin E users was probably only a chance finding.

Annette Dickinson, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group for vitamin supplement makers, said the study is ”not the final word on vitamin E.” She noted that a large National Cancer Institute study is examining whether vitamin E pills protect against prostate cancer.

First anti-ageing beer launches

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The Neuzelle Kloster Brewery, a 400-year-old company in eastern Germany, developed a beer that contains ingredients that not only make you healthy but also slow down the ageing process.

The beer is made by adding hot spring mineral water, algae and antioxidants to the traditional ingredients of beer – water, hops, yeast and barley, resulting in an brew that is rich in vitamins and minerals.

Stefan Fritsche, the managing director of the brewery in north-east Germany, said they had consulted several laboratories to find the right ingredients. “We hope it will help people lead healthier lives. Even though we can’t guarantee it will turn back the clock at least it is a healthy option.”

The ingredients in the ale, which is called Anti-Ageing Beer, include spirulina, an algae rich in protein, iron and vitamins A and D, which are added to the beer following the fermentation process, together with a concentrated liquid form of antioxidants known as flavonoids which are also found in tea, red wine and some fruits.

Scientists believe that antioxidants can restore elasticity in the skin lost during the ageing process and reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers. Beer, which is naturally rich in the antioxidants found in hops and barley, contains twice as many antioxidants as white wine. The Anti Aging Bier, however, is said to give the drinker 10 times the antioxidants of a normal pint of lager, bitter or ale.

The company hopes to export the beer to Europe and the US.

New diet pill success

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A multi-purpose drug called Accomplia, that can help slimmers, smokers and those with other cravings such as alcohol, could be on sale in the US and Europe by next year.

The drug which works by blocking the process in the brain that regulates hunger and other cravings. Trials have shown that the drug cuts bodyweight by up to 10 per cent over a year and doubles the success of smokers who try to stop.

The new pill has the potention to help the millions who are overweight – more than half the adult population.

Accomplia is made by the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi-Aventis which is applying for licences to market it early in 2006 in Europe and the U.S.

Results from a clinical trial published today in The Lancet medical journal show that taking a daily 20mg pill of Accomplia resulted in 40 per cent of overweight patients losing 10 per cent of their bodyweight.

Mediterranean diet extends life

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A Mediterranean-style diet can extend the average life by a year, according to experts at the University of Athens Medical School.

Eating fruit, vegetables, fish and olive oil together with an occasional glass of wine and a low consumption of diary and meat, can contribute to longevity.

The findings are based on a study of 74,000 men and women in nine European countries and found that a healthy man of 60 who followed the diet could expect to live a year longer than one of the same age who ate differently.

The conclusion endorses the findings of previous research in which the Mediterranean diet is responsible for a lower risk of death from heart disease and cancer, the biggest killer diseases in the developed world.

Analysis of the findings showed those who followed the Mediterranean-diet quite closely were less likely to be among the group who died.

The Greeks were found to adhere most closely to the Mediterranean diet followed by the Spanish, Italians and French.

The British were fifth – ahead of the Danes, the Germans, the Swedes and the Dutch, who came last.

New liver grown from cloned cells

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A portable, artificial liver, made from living human cells, could save thousands of lives.

Stored in a tiny cartridge outside the body, the cells work like the real thing, purifying and filtering blood.

They are kept alive with oxygen and a special ‘soup’ of nutrients, and work around the clock for several days cleaning the blood of patients with liver failure, who would otherwise die.

The device, which has been dubbed ‘liver in a box’, is being used for the first time by British doctors. It is designed to be used temporarily by patients awaiting a transplant, many of whom die before a liverbecomes available.

But doctors believe it could eventually be used as a treatment itself because of its ability to show the damaged liver time a recover and heal itself.

A healthy liver is vital because it separates toxic particles from the blood and and plays a key role in the processing of food and drink.

The liver is the body’s biggest internal organ, the liver breaks down, modifies, and regulates all kinds of material, including carbohydrates, lipids, arnino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Its production of bile aids digestion and the excretion of wastes.

When a liver fails, the toxins stay in the blood and can cause harm to nerves, increase pressure in the brain, and damage other organs.Unlike chronic liver disease, acute liver failure — which can be caused by a range of problems including viral hepatitis — is repairable because undamaged liver cells divide and are able to regenerate the liver.

The problem is that in order to do so, the liver has to be given time-out to effect its own repairs. The main treatment for acute liver failure is a transplant backed up by intensive care to keep the patient alive while waiting for a donor.

But there aren’t enough donor organs to meet demand. Around 500 transplants a year are carried out in Britain, although more than 5,000 people need the life-

‘Despite the best that medicine can offer, even the shortest wait for donor organs can affect the chance of survival.

‘Having a means of temporary support could buy precious time,’ says Dr Peter Linden, associate professorat the University of Pittsburgh, one of the main investigators involved in technology trials.

The Elad (Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device) artificial liver works in a similar way to kidney dialysis. It is made up of two cartridges containing thousands of hollow fibres.

Human liver cells, cloned and mass produced in the laboratory, are put inside these hollow spaces. With the help of a supply of oxygen and nutrients, they attach themselves to the pockets of the hollow fibres and multiply. When the cells are ready for use, the patient’sblood is pumped through a filter and the blood cells and blood plasma are separated.

The plasma is then pumped through the hollow fibres of the artificial liver.
As it passes through the cartridge, millions of active liver cells work on the liquid to rid it of toxins. Once the liquid plasma has been treated, it is remixed with the blood cells.

As well as helping to remove toxins, the artificial liver carries out other necessary jobs, such as adding beneficial proteins.

Initial studies have shown that the technology kept 92per cent of patients alive while they waited for a transplant, or their own organ recovered. Larger trials are planned.

Avoiding the need tor a transplant is good news for the patient and public health, which will be saved money — each operation costs at least $60,000.

Gut microbes

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Bugs in the gut could help doctors develop individualised healthcare

The success of personalised healthcare hinges on a better understanding of how microbes in the gut interact with different medicines report scientists from Imperial College London and Astra Zeneca.

Personalised medicine aims to provide medical treatment tailored more precisely to the individual, maximising efficacy while reducing the risk of an adverse reaction.

According to an article published this month in Nature Reviews Microbiology the researchers believe that gut microbes, which influence both the biochemistry and immune system of the host, could play a key role in modulating how medicines can affect the body. As the community of microbes varies greatly between individuals this could have important implications for the development of personalised treatments, and for drug discovery.

The team have summarised the scientific evidence showing that gut microbes have a large number of interactions with the body, and that changes to their composition could have significant effects, both good and bad, on an individual. They believe the exact composition of these microbes in the gut may lead to variations in the effectiveness of drugs between individuals and populations.

Professor Jeremy Nicholson, from Imperial College London, and an author of the paper comments: “The discovery that these gut microbes play such an important role means we could have made the first step towards providing patients with personalised, tailored healthcare and medical solutions.

“For example, in the future it may be possible for your doctor to provide you with a personalised treatment for virtually any illness through the analysis of a blood sample. Similarly, doctors could also spot potential illnesses before they become a problem and take preventative measures.”

Professor Ian Wilson, from AstraZeneca, and an author of the paper adds: “This growing realisation that the gut microflora may have effects that cannot be predicted from the patients genome alone adds an extra layer of complexity to the way in which we carry out drug discovery. At the moment, when developing a new drug we take very little account of factors such as the microflora and this may need to change.”

Alzheimer’s sniff test

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Scientists have discovered 10 smells, including lemons and leather, which can be used to help predict who will develop Alzheimer’s disease.

They believe the inability to smell certain odours can determine which patients with minimal or mild cognitive impairment are at risk.

The 10 smells are strawberry, smoke, soap, menthol, clove, pineapple, natural gas, lilac, lemon and leather. The researchers from New York State Psychiatric Institute said their results were similar to tests measuring reduction in brain volumes on MRI scans and memory tests in acting as potential predictors.

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s progressive brain disorder which destroys the memory, could lead to better treatment.

Ailing hearts repaired with leg cells

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Around 60 patients in the UK are taking part in a trial of a new therapy that uses cells grown from leg muscule to repair faulty hearts.

The cells are taken from the patient’s leg and injected into the heart in the trials at the UK’s Heart Hospital and University College London. The cells are taken up and help rejenerate the heart.

Nearly all patients who survive a significant heart attack progress to heart failure, which affects 22 million people worldwide, including almost one million in the UK.

Heart failure is incurable, although its symptoms can be treated with drugs. After a heart attack, areas of muscle may die, and the idea behind the therapy is to breathe new life into sick hearts by injecting living cells into the dead areas. The aim is that within six months to a year, the muscle cells will start behaving like heart muscle, contracting and expanding the heart, and revitalising the damaged tissue.

Arthritis pain eased by acupuncture

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A new study shows that acupuncture does help arthritis of the knee. reducing pain by up to 40 per cent.

There was also a 40 per cent improvement in mobility of the affected knee.

Some 570 patients, all aged over 50 and with knee pain they had suffered more than a month, took part in the 26-week American study.

The volunteers were given either genuine acupuncture, ‘sham’ acupuncture or a selfhelp course in managing their condition. They also continued to receive conventional treatment, including painkilling drugs.

By the eighth week, the acupuncture patients saw a significant increase in knee function, compared to the other groups. By week 14, they were suffering significantly less pain.

Dr Stephen Straus, director of the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which funded the study, said: ‘For the first time, a clinical trial with significant rigour, size and duration has shown that acupuncture reduces the pain and functional impairment of osteoarthritis of the knee.’

There has been growing acceptance of acupuncture by doctors which has seen the 2,500-year- old needle-based therapy move into the mainstream of treatments routinely given to patients.

Other research has shown it helps women by easing the pain after breast cancer surgery, while childless women who have acupuncture during fertility treatment are more likely to become pregnant.

New jab for alcohol addiction

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A long-acting once-a-month injection to help recovering alcoholics from drinking has been developed by scientists at the University of Carolina in the US.

The injection uses naltrexone, a drug already used to treat alcohol addiction, but has to be taken daily in the form of tablets. The injectable form is more effective as patients do not need to remember to take it and has been shown to reduce heavy drinking by 25 per cent.

Scientists use body’s immune system to destroy cancer

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British scientists are using the body’s own tcells to destroy cancer cells, in a new treatment that could become available in the next five years.

This treatment, which involves taking a cancer patients blood, modifying the t-cells -the white blood cells that fight infection – and reinjecting them back into the body.

The genetically engineered cells which have been “fitted” with a tracker device lock onto the cancer cells and destroy them. The treatment avoids the terrible side effects typically suffered by patients having chemotherapy and radiotherapy and could be used alongside conventional treatments.

Researchers yesterday said that the ground- breaking approach had already produced ‘spectacular’ results and they were very excited. Trials are due to start later this year at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

In the laboratory, scientists take t-cells from the blood and genetically modify them so they have an antibody device able to track down tumours.

Professor Robert Hawkins, clinical director of medical oncology at the Christie, said trials will begin on bowel, stomach and pancreatic cancers but would probably move on to other forms of the disease.

British women use less wrinkle creams

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British women are less likely to use anti-wrinkle creams than other western European women, research suggests.

Market analyst Mintel found 36% of British women used the creams compared with about a half of French women and Spaniards and two thirds of Germans.

German women were most concerned about ageing, with many girls using anti-ageing creams from age 15.

But in Britain, 65% of the 25,000 women questioned said drinking plenty of water was the key to good skin.

German women not only used the most products but were more likely to use the to ward off the future effects of ageing rather than to correct existing lines and wrinkles.

The poll which found 63% of anti-ageing cream users admitted to this, compared to 46% in Britain.

Manufacturers are likely to use the information to try to persuade more UK women to start using anti-ageing products to preserve their looks.

Michelle Strutton, senior consumer analyst at Mintel, says: “Although older women throughout Europe naturally constitute the prime consumer base for anti-ageing skincare, manufacturers are keen to target younger women with products that are preventative, rather than curative.”

Although fewer French women use anti-ageing products than German women, they collectively spend far more on facial skincare – including moisturisers, cleansers and toners – than any other western European country.

FACIAL SKINCARE SPENDING
France: 2.2bn euros (£1.5bn)
Italy: 1.1bn euros (£0.8bn)
Britain: 791m euros (£545m)
Spain: 502m euros (£346m

Mintel says sales are expected to reach 2.2bn euros (£1.5bn) this year, or 40% of the western European market – as much as those in Spain, Germany and Britain combined.
France is followed by Italy, with a market worth nearly 1.1bn euros (£0.8bn).

The British facial skincare market is worth just over 791m euros (£545m), accounting for just 15% of the market.

However, Mintel expects British women to start buying more facial products over the next five years, boosting the market 24% to be worth almost 1bn euros (£0.7bn). Ms Strutton said: “The ageing population across the board in Europe is now really starting to have an impact on consumer markets.

“Because of this the key issue facing skincare manufacturers is how to maximise the potential of the older consumer aged 50 and above.

“This will require a fresh approach rather than simply grouping all over 50s together as has usually been done in the past… We could see tailored skincare solutions based on age, skin type and life stage.”

Some 10,000 people in Germany, Spain and France and 25,000 people in Great Britain were questioned for the poll.

Warning to women over menopause herb

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The UK’s Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency has issued a warning over the anti-menopause herbal treatment Black Cohosh following alerts that it may be linked or the cause of liver damage in women.

The Committee on Safety of Medicines has received 10 reports of problems in people taking the herb in the UK. Seven involved liver damage, one of which was life threatening. All eventually made a full recovery.

Smoking takes a decade off female reproductive age

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A new study in the Netherlands has shown that smoking adds ten years to a woman’s reproductive age.

A smoker aged 30 has the fertility of a 40-year-old, says the study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, which looked at 8,500 women, from 20 to over 40, who were having infertility treatment in the Netherlands.

Just one cigarette a day cuts the chances of becoming pregnant and increases the likelihood of a miscarriage.

Although it is accepted that smoking during pregnancy damages the unborn child, its affect on fertility was not totally clear until now. Approximately one in four women smoke and one in six couples has fertility problems.

The researchers looked at the number of successful IVF cycles and discovered that for smokers the chances of getting pregnant was 28 per cent lower than among non-smokers. The miscarriage rate for smokers was also higher – 21 per cent compared with 16 per cent.

Ovrweight women also had a 33 per cent lower rate of giving birth after their first cycle of treatment.

Professor Didi Braat, from Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, who led the new research, said a smoker between 20 and 30 had the same chances of pregnancy as someone a full decade older.

Curry cure for Alzheimer’s

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One of the main ingredents in Indian curries may be a new weapon in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) have found that curcumin, part of turmeric, which gives curry its yellow colour, stops the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids which are believed to be responsible for the disease.

In the UCLA study curcumin was crossed the blood-brain barrier to eliminate amyloid plaques. It also attacked the build-up of beta amyloid by as much as 21 per cent. Earlier studies by the same team found that curcumin was also a powerful antioxidant, with anti-inflammatory properties.

Curcumin, is ground from the root of a plant of the ginger family and grows wild in the Himalayas and South Asia. There is a low incidence of Alzheimer’s in India and other curry-eating countries. Turmeric has already been found to slow prostate cancer and is sold in capsules. Doctors believe that it may be used as a drug or supplement to prevent people developing Alzheimer’s in much the same was as statins are used to prevent heart attacks.

Doctors agree that amyloid plaques (abnormal build-ups of a protein fragment known as beta amyloids) are responsible for the memory loss which marks Alzheimer’s.

The results of the study which used mice, is published in the Journal Of Biological Chemistry, suggest that curcumin would not only prevent the build-up in patients who already have the degenerative brain disease, but act to block the plaques developing in the first place.

The UCLA team has now started human trials which could eventually lead to the development of a drug.

New breathing machine lowers blood pressure

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A new breathing machine capable of lowering blood pressure with 45 minutes’ use a week has been developed.

Made by the company Intercure, the machine slows down patients’ rate of breathing and tests have shown that this results in a significant lowering of blood pressure. Tests have been carried out by Rush University in California

The device works by relaxing blood vessels allowing more normal blood flow. Regular use has a cumulative effect on pressure.

For the vast majority of people with high blood pressure, there is no single clear cause, although overweight and a lack of exercise are contributory factors in many cases. It is predicted that by 2025, one in three people will have hypertension.

Research shows that socalled rhythmic breathing exercises done at home can also have beneficial effects on high blood pressure.

Scientists at the University of Florida who taught breathing exercises to hypertensive patients found that they were able to reduce both blood pressure andheart rate. Those in the trial had blood pressure greater than 140/90 or were taking anti-hypertensive drugs.

Exercise beats depression

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Cycling or swimming three times a week can be as effective as drugs for treating depression, new research has discovered.

In study by the University of Texas to investigate how exercise alone can be used to treat mild to moderate depression, researchers found that symptoms were cut by a half in men and women aged 20 to 45 who took part in three to five 30-minute aerobic exercise sessions a week for 12 weeks. Researchers from the University of Texas say the results are comparable to those achieved with anti-depressant drugs.

Stress adds ten years to age, US report says

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Stress can dramatically weaken the body’s defences against disease, leaving people who lead such lives with immune systems ten years ‘older’ than they should be, says a report.

The University of California said its findings shows just how much stress can help speed up the ageing process, particularly in women. The research team assessed the condition of DNA structures called telomeres among mothers with stressful lives. Telomeres, which act as protective ‘caps’ on the end of chromosomes, are vital to a healthy immune system.

The scientists found that those in women with the highest levels of stress had undergone the equivalent of ten years’ additional ageing.

Swiss scientists use polymer bone replacements

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Scientists in Switzerland’s Lausanne University Hospital have used a polymer material to repair or replace damaged and broken bones.

Trials at the hospital show that the substance made of polymer and ceramic supports bone cells as they repair.

At present, bone grafts from a patient’s own body or a donor are used, with the latter carrying additional risk of disease. Tests using human bone fragments found that bone cells colonised the material over three to four weeks and multiplied. Surgeons can also sculpt it into predetermined forms, and if the trials are a success it could be available within five years.

Cell therapy used to cure diabetes

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A UK man who has suffered from diabetes for more than 30 years has had the condition reversed by cell transplant surgery.

The man, aged 61, suffered from Type 1 diabetes and required daily insulin injections to control it until he was given injections of insulin-producing pancratic ‘islet’ cells from dead donors.

Doctors at London’s King’s College Hospital injected the cells into his liver using keyhole surgery. The new cells replaced his own mal-fuctioning cells in the pancreas and he no longer needs to take insulin.

Professor Stephanie Amiel, a consultant in diabetes at King’s, said: “The implications for the future are enormous. Eventually this could mean the end of insulin dependence for all Type 1 diabetes sufferers.”

Despite the success doctors are not sure how long the new cells will last and fear they may come under attack from the body’s own immune system.

Grey hair cure could be on market within ten years

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Scientists say it will soon be possible to reverse the greying of hair after discovering a gene responsible in mice.

The discovery, by doctors at the Dana-Farber Cancer Insitute in Boston, came as a result of research into skin cancer.

The colour of our hair comes from stem cells which live inside every hair folicle. As we age these begin to switch off and so our hair looses colour and eventually turns white.

The experiments in Boston used mice and discoverd that they had a faulty Bcl2 gene which turned them prematurely grey. It is thought that the research may lead to drug treatments targeted at correcting faulty versions of this gene – and thus halting or reversing hair greying.

Billions of dollars are spent each year by consumers purchasing hair products including dyes.

Dr David Fisher said his team believed skin cancer was ‘the flip-side of the going-grey coin’ because it occurs when melanocytes in the skin proliferate uncontrollably, rather than when they start to disappear.

Dr Fisher said he hoped that it would eventually be possible to use drugs to mimic the ageing process that causes grey hair in order to treat melanoma.

He said preventing grey hair was not his aim, but that his findings could help other scientists working in the field.

Brain food in chickens falls

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The amount of omega-3 fatty acid DHA, a nutrient essential for a healthy human brain, has fallen dramatically in commercially-bred chickens, researchers at London’s Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition have discovered.

In the last twenty years the amount of this key nutrient has dropped to 25 milligrams per 100 grams of chicken. In 1980 a typical chicken contained 170 milligrams of DHA per 100 grams.

Professor Michael Crawford, one of the authors of the report, said that the decline of omega-3 fatty acid in chicken meat was the result of the diet fed to commercially reared birds.

“Chickens used to roam free and eat herbs and seeds. They are now fed with high energy foods and even most organic chickens don’t have to walk any distance to eat,” said Professor Crawford.

Omega-3 fatty acid helps feed the brain, helping to prevent Alzheimer’s and heart disease. The best sources of this nutrient are oily fish such a salmon and sardines.

The report also said that the calorific value of chicken had increased. Modern birds now have three times the fat content than 35 years ago, again because their diet is aimed at fattening them up as quickly as possible.

Nutritionists recommend grilling chicken after removing the skin, where most of the fat is deposited in chicken.

New pill for heart attack victims

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Heart attacks could be saved by a new ‘super-aspirin’ drug.

Plavix , the brand name of the drug, taken – with other clot-stopping treatments- cuts the risk of death, researchers in the US have discovered. Aspirin and Plavix both prevent blood clots through different mechanisms.

Researchers concluded that the drug increases survival rates and helps patients to live longer. The findings came from a study of 46,000 patients by researchers from Oxford University and China.

All were treated for severe heart attacks where the artery was completely blocked, with treatments including clotbusters and low-dose aspirin to disperse the clots.

Around 3,500 were allocated to receive standard treatment and Plavix, which is also known as clopidogrel, or standard treatment plus a placebo – a dummy pill.

When patients returned to hospital for tests a week later, 22 per cent of those on placebo had died, suffered a second attack or still had a clogged artery.

Only 15 per cent of those taking a 75mg daily dose of Plavix had fared as badly in the study, which was the second largest yet to be conducted into emergency heart attack treatment.

The benefits were even seen in older patients and in those seeking help several hours after the onset of symptoms.

Plavix is the first drug in 12 years to show a clear survival benefit in patients with big heart attacks and could therefore become a standard of care for these patients,’ he added.

Dr Zhengming Chen, from Oxford’s Clinical Trial Service Unit, who presented the results at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, said: ‘This means that, on average, adding clopidogrel to current therapies benefits one out of every 100 patients.

‘So for every million having a heart attack, giving this simple additional treatment for about two weeks would save 5,000 lives and prevent another 5,000 repeat heart attacks or strokes.

He added: ‘As there are an estimated ten million heart attacks in the world every year, the findings from this study – if implemented appropriately widely – would make an important contribution to saving lives and reducing disability.’

The study also found that giving a beta-blocker drug to emergency-heart attack victims cut the risk of repeat attacks and life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances.

But early use of beta-blockers raised the risk of cardiac shock in the immediate aftermath of an attack.

The good and bad effects cancelled each other out, the researchers found, resulting in no overall increase in survival.

The use of aspirin for the emergency treatment of heart attacks had previously been shown to reduce the risk of death and further attacks by about a quarter.

Statins

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A guide is being posted

Top AntiAgeing Elixirs

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Below is a list of the most important nutrients, antioxident supplements and hormones for achieving and maintaining optimum health from the inside. Many of them can also be applied topically in ant-ageing skincreams – see Creams & Potions for main brands containing them.

Anti-ageing medicine uses nutrition, dietary supplements and hormones, often in combination with drugs to assist patients in living a longer and healthier life. Improvements in diet and lifestyle have shown that even simple changes to these can delay or even prevent the apperance of serious diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, cataracts and diabetes.

The recommended doses by manufacturers of supplements do not take into account body weight, health and enviromental factors so you are advised to seek the advice of a qualified doctor who can determine more precisely your needs. A blood test should be part of this assessment – see AntiAgeing Tests in this section of the website.

By using the optimum combination of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals you give yourself the best chance of improving your health, from improved memory skills, to better muscle tone, increased libido and healthier skin, hair and nails.

The top 10 special supplements – as recommended by the Life Extension Foundation – are listed and described at the end of this section. LEF is a non-profit organization, whose long-range goal is the radical extension of the healthy human lifespan within the next decade. LEF’s Scientific Advisory Board is made up of pre-eminent scientists and doctors in the field of life-extension research and therapies. LEF products use the highest grade constituents (pharmaceutical grade) and regularly tests products using mass specttrophotometry/HPLC to verify their content and quality. LEF uses its profits to promote life extension research.

TOP ANTI-AGEING SUPPLEMENTS

ALPHA-LIPOIC ACID

A major cause of ageing is the decline in the energy-producing capability of cells which results in reduced metabolic activity and eventually cell death. ALA is a highly potent antioxidant that fights free radicals and it is both water and fat soluable which means that it can penetrate all parts of a cell. This enzyme is found in the mitachondria helps cell metabolism, general vitality and production of collagen. It is usually taken in combination with acetyl-l-carnitine an amino acid that helps transport fat into the mitachondria of the cell.

As an antioxident it is also used topically in anti-ageing skin creams. It helps decrease pore size and lines.

This supplement not recommended during pregnancy or for diabetics who are glucose intolerant. It should not be taken after 5pm as it is a stimulant and could keep you from sleeping. It is also in the following foods – spinach, liver brewer’s yeast, beef and potatoes.

BETA-CAROTENE

Found in carrots and other highly coloured vegetables and fruits. An antioxident that may help fight cancer.

BIOFLAVONOIDS

A chemical found in fruits and vegetables. Found in the following foods: Apricots, plums, blackberries, strawberries, green tea, rosehips, green peppers, green beans, broccoli, red cabbage, grapes, cherries, rhubarb, red wine, lemons,oranges. Quercetin, the most active of the citrus bioflavonoids has anti-inflammatory properties and helps allergic reactions. Also beneficial in diabetes as it helps prevent damage to blood vessels by excess sugar in the body.

Grapes, particularly grapeseeds and red wine are a good source of the bioflavonoids proanthocyanidins. These prevent hardening
of the artery. Butcher’s Broom can reduce inflammation and swelling associated with leg problems as it strengthens the vein and helps blood flow and even mor effective when combined with horse chustnut seed (conker) extract, vitamin C and the flavonoid rutin. The plant, milk thistle contains the bioflavonoid silymarin which promotes cell regeneration and can help repair liver damage from alcohol. This helps the skin and promotes energy.

CoEnzyme Q10

CoEnzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble vitamin-like substance present in every cell of the body. It also occurs naturally in a number of foods, including organ meats, soy oil, sardines, mackerel and peanuts. It is a powerful antioxidant and acts as a coenzyme for several of the key steps in the production of energy within every cell. Low levels of CoQ10 have been linked to several deseases. Low levels are attributed to an insufficient dietary intake combined with an inability of the body to manufacture its own. A number of commonly prescribed medications can also affect levels including statins (used to treat high cholesterol), beta-blockers and tricyclic antidepressants.

CoQ10 has been particularly successful in the area of cardiac health. It is found in fairly high concentrations in healthy hearts. Conversely, low levels are associated with congestive heart failure. It is also thought that low levels may also be the main cause in heart failure. It has also helpful in reducing blood pressure and heart rate and associated conditions, as well as peridontal disease. There is also increasing evidence that the brain can also suffer.

Ageing humans have been found to have 57% less CoQ10 on average compared to that of young adults. Its effect on the mitochondria, the “energy powehouses” of our cells where it regulates the oxidation of fats and sugars into energy, makes it one of the most important nutrients for people over the age of 30.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

EFAs are essential to the body and is able to manufacture them aside from two – linoleic acid (omega-6 family) and linolenic acid (omega3 family). Since they must come from the diet they are classified as EFAs.

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish, perilla and flaxseed oils. They contain a substance known as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These are usually lacking in the Western diet which has mainly omega-6 fats supplied in the diet from meat and vegetable oils.

Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which is found in evening primrose oil, borage oil and blackcurrent oil is an important fatty acid that plays a beneficial role in prostaglandin formation

EFAs interfere with blood clotting so anyone contemplating surgery or suffering from a hemorrhagic disease should consult a doctor before taking them.

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)

The supplement DHEA, is a steroid hormone that can slow ageing, prevent disease and improve strength. Its medical uses include the treatment of depression and dementia It is used by some athletes to increase muscle mass and strength, but banned by sporting bodies including the International Olympic Committee and the National Football League. It is classed as a food supplement and has also become popular as an anti-ageing remedy.

Ageing men and woman are invariably DHEA deficient. DHEA is the most abundent circulating hormone in the youthful human body but peaks by the age of 25 and declines thereafter. By the age of 70 most people DHEA has declined by over 80%. DHEA should not be taken by those with existing prostate or breast cancer. Those with liver disease should take dissolve in the mouth tables rather than capsules.

DHEA levels decrease after 30 and it is thought that some symptoms of ageing could be associated with a DHEA deficiency.There has been considerable interest in using DHEA in Alzheimer’s disease. DHEA supplements in menapausal woman have also shown to increase estrogen levels and reduction in hot flushes.

A study by the Univesity of California, San Diego, said that 50mgs a day taken daily over six months increased lean body mass and muscle strength.

Known side effects: DHEA and pregnenolone may cause heart rhythm irregularities and irreversible hair loss.

DMAE

DMAE, or dimethylaminoethanol (chemical name deanol), is a compound found in high levels in oily fish such as anchovies, sardines and salmon. It is also produced in small amounts by the human brain. It is sold as a food supplement to boost brain function and is thought to be helpful in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Doctors are also looking at its role in treating poor memory and Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as some movement disorders.

The supplement was originally researched as a treatment for ADHD and early studies in the 1970s revealed that it was helpful for children with learning disabilities and behavior problems. This substance appears to increase production of chemicals in the brain essential for short-term memory, concentration, and learning capacity. It is also classed as an “cholinergic” because it is thought to increase levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, one of the chemicals in the brain that enhances mental powers. A decrease in the brain cells that produce acetylcholine is thought to be parlty responsible for Alezheimer’s. “Cholinergic” drugs, such as tacrine (Cognex), donepezil (Aricept), rivasatigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Reminyl) are used to treat the dementia of Alzheimer’s disease.

Although there are no conclusive studies it is possible that DMAE has memory-boosting effects. Many nutritionally oriented physicians prescribe DMAE along with another memory enhancer, the dietary supplement phosphatidylcholine.

DMAE supplements won’t work for everybody and are not intended as a cure. But they are safe and may be helpful. They should be taken with meals.

There are no known drug or nutrient interactions associated with DMAE but more needs to be learned this supplement. You should consult a doctor, particularly if you have any illnesses such as epilepsy.

International anti-ageing skin doctor Nicholas Perricone describes DMAE as “the magic bullet” for skin. He prescribes supplements and a diet high in wild salmon – his research documents changes in the skin in only three days. He believes that DMAE is a building-block of the neuro-transmitter acetylcholine which declines with age and causes a deterioration in musle-tone as well as brain function. This diet also has a beneficial effect on weight.

Recommended books by Perricone: The Perricone Prescription and The Wrinkle Cure.

GLUCOSOMINE

Glucosamine is a natural substance in the body known as an amino-sugar which is made in the body as a result of the synthesis of L-glutamine and glucose. Glucosamine stimulates glycosamino-glycans which are important in the formation of cartiliage and joint ligaments. As people age, they lose the ability to manufacture sufficient levels of glucosamine. Cartilage then loses its gel-like nature and ability to act as a shock absorber. Research in The Lancet medical journal which used X-rays to investigate the knee cartilage of volunteers, found those who took glucosamine pills for three years halted the progress of their osteoarthritis. In Spain, Portugal and Italy, glucosamine is the preferred treatment for arthritis. Glucasamine is sold as a supplement and there are also skin patches. It is often sold in supplements with Chondroitin sulfates which help the glucosamine into joints.

HUMAN GROWTH HORMON

HGH is released by the pituitary gland during sleep and is the most important anti-ageing hormone of all. It is produced until around mid-20s to age 30, but continues to decrease as we age. Genuine HGH is synethically made by only two drugs companies mainly for use with children who suffer from growth hormone deficiency. In adults HGH injections are used to increase metabolism and other visible signs of ageing but these are only available on prescrption. Naturapathic HGH, which is widely available on the web, has been criticised as a “scam” by professional anti-ageing experts.

HGH restores muscle strength, stamina and other attributes of youth.
There are also natural ways to encourage HRH production, including exercise. The following are HGH boosters:magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc and B vitamins found in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, plus unprocessed nuts and seeds, brown rice, low sugar cereals — especially oats, soya-based foods and raisins. A good night’s sleep and regular exercise help increase production of this hormone. People who sleep on average eight hours a night live longer than those who sleep for six hours or less. Also HGH boosters are the amino acids omithine, lysine, arginine and glutamine.

Growth hormone causes the liver to produce ICF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor), a substance which promotes cell growth and repair.

HGH is used by anti-ageing doctors to slow and sometimes reverse ageing.

Known side effects: HGHs hould not be used by those suffering from cancer. There are studies that suggest it may increase risk of cancer, triggers diabetes and joint pain -although supporters dispute this. Although it works to promote healing it has also shown a worsening of outcome when used first at a period of critical illness.

MELATONIN

Millions of people already take the hormone melatonin, which is sold in pharmacies and health food stores in the United States, Thailand, Singapore and on the Internet. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced naturally in the pineal gland in the brain and is released during the night. It regulates sleep patterns and influences other hormones and is useful in relieving jet lag and has anti-cancer properties. In experiments it has been shown to increase the lifespan of animals.

Secretion of melatonin decreases with age. It has been found to increase the qualityof sleep in 60% of users. In small amounts it also causes skin cell growth but in large amounts the opposite occurs.

The anti-oxident vitamins and minerals

Vitamins A, C and E; bioflavonoids and the minerals selenium, zinc and maganese all help to repair and renew cells.

TOP TEN NUTRIENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LIFE EXTENSION FOUNDATION

Life Extension Mix

LEF says that this is the most complete multivitamin supplement in history and recommends it as the cornerstone of an overall health maintenance programme.

Its main constitutients are highly concentrated fruit and vegetable extracts, pharmaceutical grade vitamins, minerals and amino acids at the optimum potencies. It is available as tablets (nine per day), capsules (14 per day) or powder (three scoops daily).

Life Extension Super Booster

This contains nutrients in a soft gel capsule (one per day) that can only be delivered in an oil-base including gamma tocopherol. sesame lignans extract, ginkgo extract, vitamin K, chlorophyllin, Vitamin C, Folic acid, lycopene and four types of selenium.

This supplement should not be taken by those taking a drug called Coumadin because of conflicts with Vitamin K. Also those with Wilson’s disease should not take chlorophyllin supplements. There is a booster formula without these two ingredients.

Although there are no known side-effects its energy boosting properties mean that it can increase the body’s production of free radicals and it is advised that it is taken with other potent antioxidents ( for example Life Extension Mix and/or Life Extension Booster or Gamma E Tocopherol with Sesame Lignans formula).

Mitochondrial Energy Optimise

All of the nutrients in the Mitochondrial Energy Optimiser help restore the integrity of the mitochrondria – our energy powerhouses and contains antioxidents to assist in slowing down the ageing process. These include acetyl-l-carnitine, carnosine, R-lipoic acid, luteolin and SODzyme (sprout concentrate). Four capsules are taken daily.

Cognitex

The active ingredients in Cognitex attack what scientists believe are the main causes of age-related brain decline. It contains pharmaceutical extracts of Nexrutine and 5-Loxin. As well as quercetin, Phosphatidylserine, Alph-glycerylphosphorylcholine and vinpocetine. It is available with or without pregnenolone, a hormone that may be beneficial to the brain. This hormone should not be taken by anyone with existing steroid hormone-sensitive cancers.

Super EPA/DHA with Sesame Lignans

Omega-3 fatt acids, such as those found in cold-water fish, can help reduce deaths from heart disease. This is because fish oils lower triglycerides, a substance that adds to arterial blockage and also help protect healthy blood flow in the arteries. The addition of sesame supresses free radical production in the fish oil itself and helps boost other beneficial fatty acids. Four capsules are taken daily.

Enhanced Natural Prostate(for men)

LEF says this is one of their best sellers. It promotes prostate health with a combination of saw palmetto extract, pygeum and nettle root.Two capsules are taken daily – morning and evening.

Bone Restore (for women)

This contains a potent dose of elemental calcium along with boron and silicon to boost the body’s ability to maintain healthy bone density. Five tablets to be taken daily.

Restoring Youthful Balance Hormones

Youthful hormone balance is critical to maintaining health in all women and men over age 40. Ageing men and woman are invariably DHEA deficient. Many men over the age of 40 have too much estrogen and too little free testosterone. While ageing woman need to balance their progesterone and estergen.

DHEA is the most abundent circulating hormone in the youthful human body but peaks by the age of 25 and declines thereafter. By the age of 70 most people DHEA has declined by over 80%. DHEA should not be taken by those with existing prostate or breast cancer. Those with liver disease should take dissolve in the mouth tables rather than capsules.

Super MiraForte is a supplement for men that contains chrysin, bioperine, urtica dioica and muira puama. It works to help restore more youthful testosterone levels. Two capsules are taken twice daily. It should not be taken by men with prostate cancer or by women.

Natural Estrogen contains natural plant extracts including licorice, black cohosh, dong quai and vitex agnus-castus. Suggested dose is one table twice daily. This supplement should not be taken by anyone with estrogen-dependent cancer.

S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe)

SAMe a supplement which promotes good mood and bone and joint health should be taken with vitamin B12 and folic acid – both of which are in the Life Extension Mix and/or the Life Extension Booster.

Aspirin

Aspirin has been found to be beneficial in the prevention of heart attacks and strokes because it affects the blood platelets making them less likely to stick together improving blood flow. The HealthPrin brand is coated to minimize stomach irritation.

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