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Kick Frailty to the Curb

The AHA! Team — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 08:03:17 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – Most doctors will tell you that frailty is an inevitable and irreversible part of aging. They couldn’t be more wrong. Worse than that, this is an extremely dangerous position to take. Multiple studies now reveal that frailty – an all-too-common condition among seniors characterized by severe loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia), weight loss, and debilitating fatigue – makes older adults extremely susceptible to…1,2,3 Severe infections, like pneumonia Increased risk of losing your independence Congestive heart failure Alzheimer’s Conventional doctors don’t talk about it with their patients because there isn’t any drug to treat it. Do you know why I’m the only one telling you about this? Because there is nothing natural about frailty, and there’s plenty you can do to stop – and even reverse – it. At the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, I prove it almost every day. Frailty is caused by a combination of muscle loss and cellular slowdown. And that means any solution to frailty has to be a two-pronged attack. A string of recent studies reveals one of the most effective solutions to frailty – plus the added anti-aging power – is to boost your body’s levels of a metabolite called Urolithin A. Urolithin A, or UA, is produced by gut microflora from foods rich in ellagitannins, a natural plant-based antioxidant that I’ll tell you about in a minute. Multiple studies now show that UA helps cells to replace worn-out mitochondria, the little power generators inside each of your cells that provide your body with energy. You see, when your muscles weaken as you age, it’s often because your mitochondria aren’t working correctly. These key studies show UA can slow and even reverse this deterioration.4 The bad news is that most people don’t have any UA in their systems.5 But the good news is that while scientists haven’t yet identified which specific gut bacteria convert ellagitannins into UA, direct supplementation of UA combined with ellagitannins-rich foods can reboot your failing muscle mitochondria. This will ward off the risk of frailty and keep you mobile, healthy, and independent far into old age. Here’s what I recommend to my patients… Eat more ellagitannins: Some of the wealthiest sources of ellagitannins are raspberries, arctic brambles, blackberries, strawberries, pomegranates, walnuts, as well as oak-aged wines. These ellagitannins are polyphenols, powerful natural antioxidants that have long been linked to heart and anti-cancer benefits. Once your gut microflora digests them, they can be converted into Urolithin A. The problem is that only some have the right mix of microflora in their gut. That’s why I always recommend my patients take UA supplements along with an ellagitannins-rich diet. Take a UA supplement: Studies show that Urolithin A is safe and works wonders on aging muscle mitochondria.6 UA supplements have been shown to improve mitochondrial health by activating mitophagy, recycling defective mitochondria, and improving mitochondrial health in pre-clinical models of aging. Their study found that seniors taking Urolithin A supplements performed better in physical endurance tests. UA has also been shown to boost muscle strength and function. You can buy UA supplements in pill and powder form, which can be mixed into breakfast yogurt, smoothies, or water. I recommend taking 1,000 mg per day. Build muscle to slow aging. Along with boosting your body’s levels of Urolithin A, building muscle is key. And exercise is the most powerful tool for building muscle. I recommend starting with the largest muscles in the body for the most significant impact. Those are the quadriceps on the front of your thighs. In one study, researchers had older men do exercises similar to what I recommend in my PACE program. They worked three times per week on their lower body. And their quad strength increased by as much as 226%.7 Here’s a PACE move to increase the strength in your quads. It’s called alternating lunges. They are among the best leg exercises older adults can do. This exercise improves quads and strengthens hips, glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs. • Place your hands on your hips. Keep your back straight and hold your head high. • Take a step forward with your right leg until your front knee is bent 90 degrees and your back knee almost touches the ground. • Use your quad muscle to push back off your leading leg and return to starting position. • Repeat with your left leg. Alternate until you are slightly out of breath. To make it truly PACE, increase the challenge slightly with each set. I call that “progressivity.” Also, to get stronger quads and muscle strength even faster, use “acceleration.” That means shortening your recovery time between sets or getting up to your desired intensity faster. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: 1. Iwai-Saito K, et al. “Frailty is associated with susceptibility and severity of pneumonia in older adults (A JAGES multilevel cross-sectional study).” Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 12;11(1):7966. 2. Wallace LMK, et al. “Investigation of frailty as a moderator of the relationship between neuropathology and dementia in Alzheimer’s disease: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Rush Memory and Aging Project.” Lancet Neurol. 2019 Feb;18(2):177-184. 3. Knowlton AA, et al, Heart failure and mitochondrial dysfunction: the role of mitochondrial fission/fusion abnormalities and new therapeutic strategies. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2014 Mar; 63(3):196-206. 4. Andreux et al. “The mitophagy activator urolithin A is safe and induces a molecular signature of improved mitochondrial and cellular health in humans.” Nat Metab. Nat Metab. 2019 Jun;1(6):595-603. 5. Singh A, et al. “Direct supplementation with Urolithin A overcomes limitations of dietary exposure and gut microbiome variability in healthy adults to achieve consistent levels across the population.” Eur J Clin Nutr. 2021. doi: 10.1038/s41430-021-00950-1. Online ahead of print. 6. Singh, A. et al. “Orally administered urolithin a is safe and modulates muscle and mitochondrial biomarkers in elderly.” Innov Aging. 2017 Jul; 1(Suppl 1):1223-1224. 7. Frontera WR et al. “Strength conditioning in older men: skeletal muscle hypertrophy and improved function.” J Appl Physiol. 1992. 64: 1038-44. To read the original article click here.

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Melatonin Could Be a Potential Therapy for Long-COVID Symptoms

AHA Publisher — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:00:30 +0000

Dr. Chinta Sidharthan via News-Medical – A recent review published in the journal Biomolecules discussed the potential uses of melatonin in treating brain fog and chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis symptoms associated with long coronavirus disease (COVID). Background An emerging concern associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is long COVID or clinical sequelae consisting of chronic fatigue, memory loss, muscle weakness, reduced pulmonary capacity during exertion, persistent fever, myalgia, epileptic seizures, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications. Patients who have recovered from severe COVID-19 experience these debilitating symptoms for months after recovery. Furthermore, studies that examined vaccinated individuals who experienced breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections found a high incidence of long COVID symptoms such as deteriorated musculoskeletal, neurological, and mental health among these individuals after recovery. This indicates that vaccination provides only limited protection against long COVID. Melatonin is a cryoprotective hormone and chemical that exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunoregulatory activity and has been seen to impair viral infections, play a role in circadian rhythm maintenance, and be effective against diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. It is also involved in the activation of glutathione-synthesizing enzymes. Melatonin could potentially be a therapeutic agent in treating long COVID symptoms. Long COVID Symptoms Brain fog is a general term used to defineimpaired cognitive function, such as difficulty concentrating, loss of working and short-term memory, and difficulty with verbal and non-verbal methods of learning and mathematical problem-solving. While brain fog can be a consequence of various factors such as sleep deprivation, malnutrition, pregnancy or menopause-related hormonal changes, or even chemotherapy, it was the most reported symptom among COVID-19-recovering patients with no history of other diseases or hypoxia. An intelligence test in the United Kingdom detected cognitive impairments in a significant number of individuals with COVID-19. Symptoms included memory loss, disorientation, and reduced mental energy. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is characterized by excessive and persistent fatigue, inability to perform physical exercise, and autonomic dysregulation. ME/CFS is also associated with disruption of circadian rhythms and the gut/mucosal barrier, mitochondrial dysfunction, and a pro-inflammatory state. Studies indicated that 45% of COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and required intensive care unit admission exhibited ME/CFS symptoms up to six months after recovery. Melatonin as a Potential Long COVID Treatment Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in all aerobically respiring life forms, and it performs antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, and neuroprotective functions in the body. It reduces the pro-inflammatory response of macrophages, activates nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2, and suppresses the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Melatonin is also known to balance inflammatory responses by decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukins (IL) 1β, 6, and 8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Warburg’s effect during viral infections causes a shift from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis which occurs in the cytoplasm. This is accompanied by inflammation-promoting mechanisms such as an increase in NF-κB and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α. Consequently, the anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages are converted to pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages, causing a cytokine storm known to cause endothelial tissue and organ damage in severe COVID-19 patients. The anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin in preventing pro-inflammatory profiles or macrophages and suppressing NF-κB activation can help reverse Warburg’s effect in long COVID patients. Melatonin also regulates the amyloid β (Aβ) metabolism associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Studies with transgenic Alzheimer’s disease models have shown that melatonin can control neuroinflammation by interacting with Aβ40 and Aβ42 and increasing protein degradation. Furthermore, the ability of melatonin to regulate circadian rhythms and sleep patterns has been shown to improve cognitive function and sleep in patients in the early stages of cognitive decline. Melatonin is also known to exhibit therapeutic activity against the various symptoms of ME/CFS, such as oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory state, mitochondrial and bioenergetic dysregulation, and disruption of the gut/mucosal barrier. Conclusions Overall, the review reported the significant potential for the use of melatonin in long-COVID and COVID-19 therapy. Studies have shown melatonin is more effective in reducing COVID-19 inflammatory markers than commonly used SARS-CoV-2 antivirals. The authors believe that although melatonin exhibits anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant properties that many studies have reported being effective against COVID-19, it has not been promoted as a therapeutic option, possibly due to its easy availability and non-patentability, which makes it an unattractive target for pharmaceutical industries. They recommend clinical trials to explore the use of melatonin as a treatment for long COVID symptoms. To read the original article click here.

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FDA Restricts Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine Due to Rare but Serious Blood Clot Risk

AHA Publisher — Mon, 09 May 2022 07:00:56 +0000

News Staff via CBN News – The U.S. government has put strict limitations on the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine because of a serious health risk. Regulators took that action because of the ongoing possibility of rare, but serious, blood clots. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the shot should only be given to adults who can’t get any other vaccine or specifically request the one from Johnson and Johnson. U.S. authorities for months have recommended that Americans get Pfizer or Moderna shots instead of the J&J vaccine. FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said the agency decided to restrict the vaccine after taking another look at the data on the risks of life-threatening blood clots and concluding that they are limited to J&J’s vaccine. “If there’s an alternative that appears to be equally effective in preventing severe outcomes from COVID-19, we’d rather see people opting for that,” Marks said. “But we’ve been careful to say that – compared to no vaccine – this is still a better option.” The problem occurs in the first two weeks after vaccination. So if you got a Johnson & Johnson shot a while ago, and haven’t had problems with blood clots, experts say you can rest easy. CDC Recommended Other Shots As CBN News reported last December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Moderna and Pfizer shots over J&J’s because of the rare blood clotting condition. At that time, the strange clotting problem caused nine confirmed deaths after J&J vaccinations. As of mid-March, federal scientists had identified 60 cases of the side effect, including nine that were fatal. That amounts to 3.23 blood clot cases per 1 million J&J shots. The problem is more common in women under 50, where the death rate was roughly 1 per million shots, according to Marks. Marks said the FDA spent extra time analyzing the problem to be sure it wasn’t connected to a separate issue, such as women taking birth control medications that raise their risk of clotting. The J&J vaccine will carry a starker warning about the potential “long-term and debilitating health consequences” of the side effect. A J&J spokesman said in an emailed statement: “Data continue to support a favorable benefit-risk profile for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in adults when compared with no vaccine.” FDA Authorized J&J Shot in February 2021 The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was first authorized by the FDA in February of 2021 for emergency use for adults 18 and up. It was the first single-shot vaccine in the fight against the global pandemic. The vaccine was initially considered an important tool in fighting the pandemic because it required only one shot. But the single-dose option proved less effective than two doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The rollout of the company’s vaccine was hurt by a series of troubles, including manufacturing problems at a Baltimore factory that forced J&J to import millions of doses from overseas. However, clotting problems first came up last spring, with the J&J shot in the U.S. and with a similar vaccine made by AstraZeneca that is used in other countries. At that time, U.S. regulators decided the benefits of J&J’s one-and-done vaccine outweighed what was considered a very rare risk — as long as recipients were warned. Potentially Dangerous Neurological Reaction to Shot Reported Last July As CBN News reported in July of 2021, regulators added a new warning to Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine about links to a rare and potentially dangerous neurological reaction but said it was not entirely clear the shot caused the problem. The FDA announced the warning, flagging reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome, an immune system disorder that can cause muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis. Health officials described the side effect as a “small possible risk” for those getting the shot. The action came after the FDA and the CDC reviewed reports of about 100 people developing the syndrome after receiving the one-dose vaccine. Almost all of were hospitalized and one person died, the FDA said. To read the original article click here.

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Feeling Hopeless About Your Underactive Thyroid? These Two Nutrients May Help, Study Suggests

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:00:37 +0000

Edit Lang via NaturalHealth365 – According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 4.6 percent of the U.S. population over 12 years old lives with hypothyroidism, with women far more likely to develop the condition than men. Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This diminished thyroid function can potentially lead to devastating health consequences, such as weight gain, muscle weakness, pain, depression, plus much more. Although thyroid medications are the gold standard for managing hypothyroidism symptoms, they are certainly not the only way to nudge your thyroid gland to release more of its vital hormones. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition put two nutrients to the test to see if they can help improve thyroid function. Study Questions Effectiveness of Medications Used to Treat Underactive Thyroid If you live with low thyroid, you know how the condition progresses over time and symptoms worsen. Upon diagnosis, most doctors recommend patients to begin taking one of the many thyroid medications on the market, likely for the rest of their life. This approach might sound reasonable if we did not consider the long list of possible side effects and severe long-term health consequences, such as breast cancer associated with thyroid medications. In addition, scientists also raised questions about medication efficacy, as a whopping 40 percent of patients on thyroid medications continue to have abnormal TSH levels, according to the Colorado thyroid disease prevalence study. Such dismal results with commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals may partially explain why researchers looked at nutrients to boost thyroid hormone levels naturally. Supplementing with These Two Nutrients Can Increase Thyroid Hormone Levels In this 12-week study, researchers divided 68 obese women with underactive thyroid into four groups. Group 1 received 30 milligrams of zinc (as zinc gluconate) and 200 micrograms of selenium (as selenium yeast) Group 2 received 30 mg of zinc Group 3 received 200 micrograms of selenium Group 4 received a placebo At the end of the study period, researchers noted significant improvements in several areas. First, participants in the zinc-selenium group saw a 9.2 percent increase in Free T3 hormone levels. The zinc only group had an even more remarkable, 27 percent increase. Second, Free T4 levels also went up by 12.4 percent among patients taking both zinc and selenium. Finally, the ratio between Free T3 and Free T4 also improved by 23.8 percent. Researchers concluded that yes, indeed, supplementing with zinc or zinc and selenium has a beneficial effect on thyroid function. Discover the Various Ways Zinc and Selenium Affect Your Thyroid To better appreciate the above findings, let’s take a closer look at the connection between thyroid and zinc. One of the most important functions of zinc is its role in the T4 to T3 conversion. This process is also called the peripheral thyroid conversion, by which your body converts the inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the active hormone T3. Although zinc is not the only nutrient playing a role in this conversion, it is undeniably the most important of all. Zinc deficiency impairs your body’s ability to convert T4 to T3 and may lead to low thyroid development. On the contrary, maintaining adequate zinc levels can help optimize your health in multiple ways. Selenium, an essential micronutrient for thyroid function, also boosts T4 to T3 conversion, protects the gland against damage, and plays a vital role in thyroid hormone synthesis. Of all the organs, your thyroid contains the highest concentration of selenium in your body. Know This Before Supplementing With Zinc or Selenium Although avoiding deficiency in zinc and selenium is essential for optimum health, you should always consult with your healthcare professional before starting a new supplement regiment. Taking high amounts (especially over 40 mg) of zinc for long periods can deplete copper stores in your body. If you have celiac disease or other digestive disorders, you may not be able to absorb zinc at all. Selenium requires similar precautions as it can be toxic at high amounts. Experts have set the daily upper limits of selenium at 400 mcg. Brazil nuts are a popular way to ensure you meet the recommended daily intake of selenium. Be mindful, however, that according to the NIH, one ounce, or about 4 to 6 Brazil nuts contain approximately 544 micrograms of selenium, which is more than nine times the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 55 mcg for most adults. A good rule of thumb is to limit the number of Brazil nuts to a couple of them a day. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov, NIH.gov, NaturalHealth365.com, NaturalHealth365.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Valid Black Licorice Risks: What You Need to Know

AHA Publisher — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 07:00:12 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Did you know there’s a compound found in black licorice that can have a potent effect on your electrolyte levels? This compound actually has therapeutic applications when used correctly, but too much of it can have a dire effect. It can cause severe electrolyte imbalances even leading to death in extreme cases. In fact, black licorice risks are valid, especially if you eat a lot of the candy or consume black licorice extract in supplements or other foods. Health experts are now calling for better public knowledge of black licorice risks. Sadly, a death was recently reported from the ingestion of too much black licorice candy. How could this happen? Since most people know very little about the glycyrrhizic acid found in black licorice and its risks, it’s important to get the word out. Especially if you’re a black licorice lover, here’s what you need to know about this compound, it’s content in commercial black licorice and supplements, and its effect on health. How Is Death from Black Licorice Possible? Black licorice contains a potent compound called glycyrrhizic acid. This acid is often touted for its therapeutic benefits including potentially supporting liver health, reduced inflammatory effects, reduced oxidative stress, and more. However, the dark side of glycyrrhizic acid is its effect on electrolyte balance. It’s this imbalance that makes over-consumption of black licorice risky. Electrolytes are extremely important to heart function, and the body works very hard to maintain balance. When glycyrrhizic acid accumulates in the body from black licorice extract, sodium rises and potassium drops in the blood plasma. This can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and rarely, death. The recent report of a death from black licorice states the Massachusettes man ate about 1.5 bags of black licorice every day for a few weeks. This amount was enough to dramatically alter his electrolytes and cause his heart to stop. Unfortunately, many people don’t know about black licorice risks, whether from candy, supplements, or additives. Glycyrrhizic Acid in Food and Supplements Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed licorice root to be generally recognized as safe for use in foods (1). The FDA allows up to 3.1% glycyrrhizic acid within the food’s content, but this amount is not always regulated or disclosed. In a statement, the FDA has now warned that eating 2 ounces of black licorice per day for 2 or more weeks could cause an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia in those over 40 years of age. Glycyrrhizic acid is extracted from Glycyrrhiza glabra, the root of the licorice plant (2). Interestingly, it has been developed in Japan and China as a drug to support liver health. In addition, it is used in many foods and supplements as a sweetener. It can be found in jelly beans, licorice teas, supplements, and even Belgian beers. In supplemental form, glycyrrhizic acid may be found as a powder, softgel, tincture, etc. While there’s no standardized dose for glycyrrhizic acid or black licorice extract, the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Scientific Committee of Food (SCF) both recommend limiting glycyrrhizic acid intake to no more than 100 mg per day (3). Some candies, supplements, foods, and drinks may contain more than this limit. Valid Black Licorice Risks Black licorice risks can come from both chronic consumption of the extract, or very large doses over a shorter period of time. Once elevated in the body, glycyrrhizic acid can cause an abnormal and significant increase in cortisol, which can lead to altered sodium and potassium levels (4). Then, this imbalance may result in (5): elevated or very low blood pressure muscle weakness abnormal heart rhythms kidney illness heart conditions fluid in the lungs While it’s very rare that black licorice extract would lead to death, doctors are urging the FDA to take a closer look at glycyrrhizic acid levels in foods and supplements after this recent tragedy. What’s more, black licorice risks are much higher for those who already have known heart or electrolyte conditions, and for anyone over 40 years of age. It’s important for the public to know about the risks as more people use supplements without medical advice. Despite its benefits experts warn that the daily consumption of licorice extract is not justified as black licorice risks outweigh any benefits (6). Other Risks of Candy Of course, there are other risks associated with eating candy, that are much more common. These risks include tooth decay, blood sugar alterations, weight gain, energy peaks and valleys, inflammatory actions, and more. Omitting processed candy and sugar in the diet is typically very beneficial for health. Bottom Line Although black licorice risks are very rare, it’s still good to be aware of them especially if you eat the candy, supplements, or foods that utilize the extract. If you choose to consume or supplement with black licorice extract, make sure to discuss it with your own health care professional. While many compounds may be considered safe in our food supply, the more you know what’s your food and how it might affect you, the better prepared you are to take control of your own health. If you’re ready to reset your food intake and cleanse your body from any compound that may be accumulating and causing disruptions to your well-being, try Dr. Colbert’s 21 Day Detox and Fast. It’s an extremely effective way to know your foods and limit any toxins. You can get started today! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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