A review of nutrients to extend healthspan by reducing the amount of protein misfolding, free radicals, and calcification

By Alfred “Roc” Ordman, Beloit College, Beloit, WI 53511

Key words: Protein misfolding; Healthspan; Alzheimer’s, arthritis, decalcification

Abbreviated title: Slowing the causes of age-associated disease

ABSTRACT

Three major causes of human aging include protein misfolding, free radicals, and calcification of the circulatory system.  Most people are unaware that each of these challenges can be slowed and even reversed by appropriate nutrition.  There is ample evidence in peer-reviewed scientific articles explaining how protein misfolding is one of the major causes contributing to brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and other age-associated diseases like arthritis.  One cause is improper mRNA translation.  Translation can be slowed and deficient amino acids obtained by eating proper nutrients.  Free radicals oxidize lipoproteins causing plaque in circulation promoting heart disease and stroke.  Antioxidant nutrients inactivate free radicals.  Calcification of the heart and arteries from overconsumption of calcium increases risk of heart disease.  Proteomics has revealed that high levels of a specific nutrient cause expression of decalcification enzymes that remove calcium stiffening the heart and arteries without weaken bones.

Nutrients with proven actions will contribute to longer healthspans for our aging population, especially by slowing and reversing these three causes.  Niacin, quercetin, EGCG, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetyl-carnitine, tyrosine and cysteine address protein misfolding.  Vitamin C and glutathione trap free radicals. Vitamin K1 removes calcium deposits in the circulatory system. Apigenin activates the pathway of caloric restriction. ‘

This article provides citations and explanations of the progress showing new ways to maintain health as we age.  For convenience and cost savings, many of these ingredients can be consumed in supplement form, taken twice a day to maintain water-soluble nutrient levels.

INTRODUCTION

On June 11, 2019 the American Association of Retired People magazine had an article stating that brain supplements do not work.  But a major cause of age-associated diseases (AADs) is a recently discovered metabolic process called protein misfolding (PM), which contributes to AADs, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, strokes, and dementia.  In peer-reviewed scientific publications specified below, nutrients are reported to reduce PM and other age-related declines and diseases.  So a brain supplement now can be effective.

A major recent unifying theme in research about why we age is the protein misfolding theory of aging [1, 2]. The basic concept is that as we age, our bodies synthesize proteins too rapidly. Because of insufficient time to find the proper amino acids during translation or enough time during synthesis for them to fold into the proper shape to function correctly, our cells make dysfunctional proteins. When we are young, these are degraded by proteasomes [3].  But as we age, they accumulate more quickly, clump together, and form globs too large for proteasomes to degrade.  Misfolded proteins are a precursor to Alzheimer’s and can be detected at least 14 years prior to symptoms [4]. This leads to mitochondria unable to produce energy, senescent cells that persist and produce harmful signals, and plaque consisting of dysfunctional proteins.

In the general circulatory system, plaque consisting of macrophages bloated from consuming oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) contributes to heart disease.  In the brain, both forms of plaque contribute to memory loss, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other dementias [5].  So reducing both forms of plaque, from PM and ox-LDL, is likely to significantly increase healthspan of the body and brain.

Research has shown that caloric restriction (CR) substantially lengthens the lives of animals, and reduces the rate of AADs, extending life 600% in C. elegans.  CR involves maintaining all essential nutrients in the diet, while reducing caloric intake substantially.  Even 12 hours of fasting on a regular basis has been shown to improve the health of humans. Recently a biochemical mechanism for this has been identified [6].  It involves inhibition of translation, slowing protein synthesis so errors in amino acids and protein folding are lessened. This indicates that a process which can reduce PM will slow declines from aging.

METHODS

As a professor at Beloit College, I have published research on antioxidants [7, 8] while distributing a newsletter [9] summarizing new scientifically-based nutrition results that may contribute to healthspan.  Upon retiring after 38 years, I was invited to develop a nutritional supplement likely to reduce age-related decline.  Aware of the vast quantity of deceptive and hazardous supplements, I reviewed the commercial products and scientific literature to determine what uncommon but safe nutrients with proven mechanisms to extend healthspan would be useful in a supplement.

RESULTS

Three mechanisms of aging have been hypothesized for many years: free radicals (10), inflammation [11], and telomeres [12]. Causes and strategies to reduce these processes have been proposed [13].  More recently, protein misfolding (PM)  has been identified as a major cause of decline as we age [14].    PM contributes to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other age-associated diseases such as arthritis [15].  To reduce the amount of PM, specific nutrients have been identified with proven mechanisms of action.

I read, and cite below, specific nutrients that are likely to slow the rate of PM. These nutrients are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration, and can be incorporated into supplements which may slow the epidemic of Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases that are related to PM.

EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) slows the transcription process so proteins can fold properly.  Quercetin inhibits the enzyme which degrades EGCG.  Thus, consuming the amount of quercetin in one serving of blueberries along with the EGCG content of a serving of green tea can provide an EGCG timespan in the body equivalent to the benefit of 6 cups of green tea.  Quercetin blocks the action of the enzyme responsible for degrading EGCG, which is the active ingredient in green tea [16].  Servings of green tea consumed daily have been shown to be correlated with health. The health benefit has been shown to increase linearly from zero to 4 cups of green tea daily.  [17]. This reduces protein misfolding and activates the beneficial processes similar to those of dietary restriction.

In addition, EGCG has antibiotic (Ab) effects, particularly enhancing Ab effectiveness against Ab-resistant bacteria.  Researchers at the University of Surrey combined EGCG with many types of antibiotics, finding the combination was up to 31 per cent more effective at killing off harmful bacteria compared to the drug antibiotic alone [18].

Deficiency of the amino acids tyrosine and cysteine contributes to protein misfolding during transcription. Many diets are deficient in these 2 amino acids, and people in regions of the world where people live longest have higher levels of these 2 amino acids in their diets.  These findings are based on work with Rolf Martin [19]. When the diet is deficient in these, phenylalanine and alanine are likely to be substituted in tRNAs, so when the protein is synthesized, it misfolds because the wrong side chains are present.

Bioflavonoids, including quercetin, have numerous health benefits. It was recently discovered that one bioflavonoid, apigenin [20], mimics the metabolic pathway effect of caloric restriction.  It inhibits CD 38, also known as cyclic ADP ribose hydrolase, a glycoprotein found on the surface of many immune cells and the main reducer of NAD+ concentration during aging.  So apigenin helps restore NAD+ toward more youthful levels.  Parsley is a rich source of apigenin, but also has been praised as a dietary source of many other benefits. “[A] wide range of pharmacological activity including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, brain protective, anti-diabetic, analgesic, spasmolytic, immunosuppressant, anti-platelet, gastroprotective, cytoprotective, laxative, estrogenic, diuretic, hypotensive, antibacterial and antifungal activities have been exhibited for this plant in modern medicine” [21, 22].

Based on the work of Ordman [8], 500mg of vitamin C twice a day will maintain near its highest concentration in people’s blood. There are numerous likely benefits. A major cause of plaque in the arteries and the brain is oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).  When free radicals are generated in the blood, if there is inadequate vitamin C to maintain the reduction of LDL, ox-LDL is formed.  Macrophages recognize this as a foreign molecule, consume it, and turn into foam cells. It is these cells that are sticky, attach to the circulatory system, for instance in small capillaries in the brain, and produce plaque [5]. Besides heart disease, this plaque can contribute both to major and mini-strokes, harming brain function.  Another molecule that traps free radicals is glutathione, often called the body’s master antioxidant. It also provides cysteine to help prevent protein misfolding, as described above

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), N-acetyl-carnitine (NAC)  and niacinamide are nutrients known to diminish with age [23].  All three are vital to brain function and energy.  NAC transports fatty acids into the mitochondrion, and ALA aids their degradation to generate energy. NAD+ levels diminish with age [15] and are replenished by supplemental niacinamide [24].

Another nutrient recently discovered to have great benefit when consumed at levels far above the Daily Value is Vitamin K.  Calcification of the heart, arteries, and other organs is a major contributor to AADs.  Nearly everyone in the US gets adequate calcium in the diet, and supplemental calcium is hazardous, so older Americans benefit from decalcification. Calcium supplements may damage the heart [25].  The higher level of vitamin K has been shown by metabolomic analysis to activate a variety of decalcifying enzymes.  These Vitamin K-induced enzymes decalcify soft tissues where excess calcium causes harm [26]. They remove calcium from the heart and arteries.  You may maintain a healthier blood pressure and have a better cardiac rhythm. This may have numerous other health benefits.  You are less likely to break a hip. You are more likely to maintain a stronger bone mass. And it will benefit your brain by reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

DISCUSSION

The number of scientists alive today is greater than all who have lived previously.  The level of medical knowledge is projected to double every 7 months by 2020.  Because of an abundance of deceptive products and claims, we are not effectively informed of the great increase in knowledge of the benefits of proper nutrition.

As examples, in 2019 the pathway by which dietary restriction [DR] slows the aging process was discovered [6 Hahm 2019].  DR slows the process by altering a signal so that proteins are synthesized more slowly, reducing the rate of PM. Apigenin affects the pathway just as DR does [20 Escande 2013].  Also, consuming quercetin and EGCG has an effect similar to DR, without the need to fast for 12 hr or longer.

CONCLUSION

Protein misfolding is a cause of age-related decline in health.  There are specific nutrients deficient in most people’s diets that will slow that process. These nutrients can be easily consumed in supplement form.

DISCLOSURE

I was hired as a consultant to investigate what nutrients that would extend healthspan are not present in most supplements.  Based on the above information, a supplement, Mito-C, has been developed with safe and inexpensive nutrients to maintain the health of our brains and reduce the risk of diseases associated with aging.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Medical Doctors Research sponsored this research and publication and has produced the supplement I developed.

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