Chronic High Stress Severely Ages Your Cells

Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco examined the cells of 58 healthy women who were mothers either of a healthy child or a chronically ill child. The cells of the mothers who were constantly under stress had aged far beyond those who perceived themselves having less stress. There cells had aged from 9 to 17 years beyond those with less stress. The study appears in the November 30, 2004 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

The reason the cells aged was because the sequence of repetitive DNA at the end of their chromosomes was shortened. This sequence is called a telomere. Every time the cell creates a healthy new daughter cell the telomere shrinks a little. When the telomere length is too short the cell ceases to exist (we are made up of cells). A recent study shows that L-Carnosine extends the life of the telomere, and therefore the cell. Perhaps all those with chronic stress should be on a combination of L-Carnosine and L-Theanine.

Vitamin K levels Lower in Crohn's Disease Patients - and Bone Loss is Greater

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can occur anywhere in the digestive tract but occurs most often at the end of the small intestine (ileum) or the start of the large intestine (cecum). Crohn's disease affects the deepest layers of intestinal tissue and can cause deep ulcers and sores. Crohn's disease interferes with the absorption of many nutrients and also leads to loss of bone tissue.

In this study it was found that levels of Vitamin K were lower in Crohn's disease patients than in healthy subjects. It was also found that in the patients low in vitamin K, there was a greater loss of bone mineral density. Vitamin K is needed to build and maintain bone. Markers of bone loss (natural body chemicals released from degrading bone that are found in the urine) were also higher in these patients indicating that the bone loss is ongoing. The study is published in the November 2004 issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Press Release - American Association for Cancer Research:
Green Tea Slows Prostate Cancer Development at Multiple Levels

The Polyphenols in Green Tea help prevent the spread of prostate cancer by targeting different pathways that shut down the growth and spread of the cancer cells, as well as inhibiting the growth of tumor feeding blood vessels according to research performed at The University of Wisconsin, and Case Western Reserve University. In a previous study, researchers found that giving mice with prostate cancer the equivalent of six cups per day worth of Green Tea Polyphenols stopped the growth of prostate cancer.
In this study it was found that:

• IGF-1 is a growth enhancing hormone in prostate cancer tissue. Consuming Green Tea Polyphenols (GTP) reduced the levels of IGF-1. GTP also decreased one of the proteins that IGF-1 latches onto, blocking the ability of IGF-1 to fuel cancer growth.
• The GTP also decreased the production of cell proteins that allow the cancer to survive and thrive. It inhibited 3 of these proteins.
• GTP also decreased levels of molecules that allow the cancer cells to spread (metastasize). It inhibited 3 of these molecules.
• GTP inhibited a chemical called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a molecule that allows the tumors to develop their own blood supply. Blocking VEGF inhibits the information of blood vessels that nourish a developing tumor. The study will be published in the December 1st, 2004 issue of the journal Cancer Research.