Products and theories promising longevity abound, though many don't have a great deal of proof backing up their claims. Modern researchers, however, are making real progress in their efforts to understand the aging process and apply that knowledge to helping people enjoy healthier, longer lives. Of the many theories concerning longevity, those surrounding concepts of free radicals as agents of aging, as explained by the University of California, Berkley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, seem to be backed up by solid clinical research and results. Thus, choosing life extension supplements based on those clinically tested concepts seems to be the safest and most logical course of action.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. This is important because, as an article by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service explains, antioxidants destroy the free radicals, which "are highly reactive and relatively indiscriminate in their destruction of protein, fat and DNA molecules." According to scientists, it is this destructive action of free radicals that creates many of the symptoms and visible signs of aging. Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute also notes the important role that Vitamin C serves in the production and regulation of hormones, as well as its critical function in the production of collagen and other connective tissues of the body, including that found in blood vessels. Supplement with care, however, because, as the USDA article points out, "the antioxidant nutrients, like most nutrients, have windows of greatest effectiveness." Consulting with a nutritional specialist can help establish the safest and most effective dosage.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant. While antioxidants can be a benefit in terms of physical health potentials, according to a study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vitamin E may also help to preserve cognitive function. The women in the study were between 70 and 79 years of age. The results of the test, according to the article, were that "long-term, current users of vitamin E with vitamin C had significantly better mean performance, as judged by a global score that combined individual test scores, than did women who had never used vitamin E or C." Furthermore, the study results indicated that "there was a trend for increasingly higher mean scores with increasing durations of use." Mental function is just as important as physical when it comes to quality of life, and the evidence seems to indicate that vitamin E can help preserve that. It is important to remember, however, that the appropriate dosage is essential and too much can be detrimental.
Trace Minerals Copper, Selenium and Zinc
Copper, selenium, and zinc are referred to as trace minerals because a small amount is essential. Too much of these minerals, however, can have a negative impact on health, so supplementing should be done with the advice of a specialist. These nutrients, as explained by a USDA Agricultural Research service article, "act as antioxidants because they are necessary components of specific antioxidant enzymes." In regions that have experienced mineral depletion of the soil or when the diet is made up primarily of foods from these regions, supplementation may be helpful to ensuring that enough of these nutrients are being consumed.
References
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology: The Free Radical Theory of Aging Matures
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services: Vitamins and Minerals, Free Radicals and Aging
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, Micronutrient Information Center: Vitamin C
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: High-dose antioxidant supplements and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly women
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