Aging slowed in mice with supplement mix

[Celebration]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/12/28/aging-longevity-chasing-cures.html

It might be possible to cure aging, say scientists who've found that lab mice get smarter and more agile as they age when fed a mix of nutritional supplements.

The diet and supplement plan isn't a conventional "cure." But the animal results at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., illustrate how investigators aim to slow down the aging process to avoid the physical and mental declines that often come as more candles are added to the birthday cake.

At Prof. David Rollo's biology laboratory, mice that ate bagel bits soaked in a cocktail of supplements such as B vitamins, vitamin D, ginseng and garlic lived longer than those not taking the special mice chow.

"If you put them on a supplement, they actually learn better as they age," Rollo said. "They still don't live much longer but their brain function is remarkable."

[Duer 157099]

1. Here's the list. Lots of the usual suspects.

Cocktail ingredients

Prof. David Rollo warns against people trying to create their own cocktail. He says the mix hasn't been tested to see if it's safe in humans.

Ingredient Mouse dose (mg/day/100 mice)
Vitamin B1 30.49
Ginkgo biloba 18.29
Vitamin B3 (niacin) 30.49
Ginseng 631.1
Vitamin B6 60.98
Green tea extract 487.8
Vitamin B12 0.18
L-Glutathione 30.49
Vitamin C 350.61
Magnesium 45.73
Vitamin D 0.02
Manganese 19.05
Acetyl L-carnitine 146.45
Melatonin 0.73
Alpha-lipoic acid 182.93
N-acetyl cysteine 304.88
Acetylsalicylic acid 132.11
Potassium 18.11
Beta carotene 21.95
Rutin 304.88
Bioflavonoids 792.68
Selenium 0.05
Chromium picolinate 0.30
Vitamin E 326.83
Folic acid 0.61
Cod liver oil (Omega 3) 1,219.51
Garlic 3.81
Coenzyme Q10 60.98
Ginger root extract 600.37
Flax seed oil 1,219.51

Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine

[Celebration]

2. well, where is the

resveratrol?

Oh, and thanks for the list!

[MineralMan]

3. Wow! Nothing like a shotgun approach to research, eh?

"In this study, we fed mice a pantload of supplements. They learned better, so a pantload of supplements caused that."

Wouldn't it be great to know which of the supplements caused that effect? Maybe it was just the bagels that did it.

[Duer 157099]

4. I would assume they had a control group just getting the bagel

I'll give them a little more credit than you do.

[MineralMan]

5. Yes, perhaps they did.

Given the thoroughly scientific protocol used in the study, I'm sure you're right.

[Duer 157099]

6. Are you suggesting that it is unscientific to use a combination?

Are you perhaps familiar with the concept of synergy? That certain vitamins/drugs/supplements only work in combination with others?

The reason progress is so painfully slow in research is because of the mono-therapeutic approach. Meanwhile, people are dying and suffering.

Do you have ANY idea how expensive/time consuming it is to do such animal studies? Multiply that by the number of compounds they are testing and maybe you will understand their protocol design a little better.

[Celebration]

7. +1

I don't see anything at all unscientific about the approach taken. Separately, they could be ineffective, but together, effective. It makes no sense for people to simultaneously criticize the general lack of nutritional studies, while at the same time denigrating this approach.

I find this very hopeful, actually, although obviously some people research is called for!

[Duer 157099]

8. There will be some people research soon

I know for a fact that at least one clinical trial begins this year, using a list of compounds containing many of those in that list.