“Anti-aging” is an understandable hot topic for baby boomers contemplating the rapid decline we begin to experience in middle age (see below). However, any intervention, diet, or supplement peddled to reverse the process, albeit well intentioned, is bound to eventually fail as we reach the end of our telomeres. This is why the main “anti-aging” intervention is acceptance of our mortality with wisdom and dignity. Second best is our diets and relationships.
Hugo Rodier, MD
Human body undergoes rapid physical transformation on molecular level during middle age
“The Washington Post (8/14/24, Sands) reports new research found that middle age is “when the human body undergoes two dramatic bouts of rapid physical transformation on a molecular level.” Scientists “tracked age-related changes in over 135,000 types of molecules and microbes, sampled from over 100 adults.” They “discovered that shifts in their abundance – either increasing or decreasing in number – did not occur gradually over time, but clustered around two ages.” The study found that “on average, the changes clustered around the ages of 44 and 60.” The findings were published in J. Nature Aging.”
Comment: our microbiome (bacteria in our body) influences the aging process through their genetic material, metabolism, detoxification and immune system functions.
Women with high ultra-processed food intake have 56% greater lupus risk
Healio Minute, August 28, 2024
“Women in the highest tertile of ultra-processed food consumption had a 56% greater chance of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus vs. the lowest. Sugar- or artificially sweetened beverages were most strongly associated with SLE, according to data published in J. Arthritis Care & Research.”
Comment: by altering our microbiome ultra-processed foods trigger an inflammatory immune system response. Inflammation generated in the gut ends up in practically all organs, which is what we see with extreme forms of SLE
Vegan diet better for weight loss than Mediterranean diet
Healio Minute, August 22, 2024
“A low-fat vegan diet reduced harmful inflammatory dietary compounds compared with a Mediterranean diet, according to findings from a randomized study. The results — published in J. Frontiers in Nutrition — showed a positive weight loss effect among participants who consumed the low-fat vegan diet.”
“According to Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) “are harmful substances that build up in our body as we age and promote inflammation and the development of diabetes, CVD and other chronic conditions.” Kahleova and colleagues had examined AGEs in two previous studies “and found that a vegan diet reduced the consumption of dietary AGEs compared to a standard American diet.”
Comment: AGEs caramelize our cells/organs. Think of starch applied to your dry cleaning to increase stiffness (decrease wrinkling). AGEs make tissues more brittle. Think of high blood pressure from stiff arteries.
Diets higher in fat from plant sources may live longer, face lower risk of dying from Cardiovascular Disease
“Cardiovascular business: (8/19/24, Walter) reports, “People who take in more dietary fat from plant sources such as grains and vegetable oils as opposed to animal sources may live longer and face a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new data.” Investigators found that “overall, higher plant fat intake among participants was linked to a lower risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality,” although the “associations were ‘consistent, but small,’ the authors explained.” Meanwhile, “higher animal fat intake from sources such as dairy products and eggs was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality.” The findings were published in JAMA Internal Med.”
Comment: eat more avocados, nuts and fish.
Red, processed meats may be driving increased risk of colon cancer in young adults
“HealthDay (8/16/24, Thompson) reported, “Red and processed meats could be driving the increased risk of colon cancer in young adults.” Younger patients with “colon cancer patients typically have higher levels of metabolites created by the digestion of an amino acid called arginine.” Additionally, “they….have higher metabolite levels tied to the urea cycle – the process by which ammonia produced by protein digestion is filtered out of the blood and excreted.” HealthDay added, “Long-term overconsumption of red meat and processed meat could explain these elevated metabolite levels in young people with colon cancer, researchers said.” The findings were published in NPJ Precision Oncology.”
Comment: at least limit red meat and charcuterie to special occasions.
Fruits and vegetables ‘foundational management’ for treating hypertension
Healio Minute, August 12, 2024
“Intake of base-producing fruits and vegetables slowed Chronic Kidney Disease progression and reduced Cardiovascular Disease risk indices. These interventions should be more accessible to those at risk for such diseases, researchers said. Dietary acid reduction from fruits and vegetables or sodium bicarbonate improved kidney health in patients with hypertension and macroalbuminuria, findings from a randomized controlled trial showed. However, only fruits and vegetables lowered BP and reduced the risk for CVD, a surprising result to the researchers.”
Comment: we used to call the problem “Essential Hypertension,” meaning we didn’t know what caused it. It should have been obvious that diet was the cause in most people.
Americans increasingly endorsing view that moderate drinking is bad for health
“CNN (8/14/24, Goodman) reports, “Americans under age 35, are changing their tune on alcohol use, with a growing share endorsing the view that moderate drinking is bad for health – and a new study backs them up.” Americans, 45%, say that having one or two alcoholic drinks a day is bad for a person’s health.” Yunger adults are the group most likely to say drinking is bad for health, with 65% in that camp, compared with 37% of adults ages 35 to 54 and 39% of adults 55 and older.” Meanwhile, a study published in JAMA Network Open “found that moderate drinking doesn’t appear to benefit the health of older adults.”
Comment: the “French Paradox” in the 80s told us that alcohol was good for you. It turns out that people who drink wine tend to have more money and afford more fruits and veggies. Even alcohol in moderation is harmful to microbiome and liver.
Eating anti-inflammatory diet lowers risk of dementia by 31%
“CNN (8/13/24, LaMotte) reports, “Eating an anti-inflammatory diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables instead of an inflammatory diet focused on red and processed meats and ultra-processed foods (sugary cereals, sodas, fries and ice cream) lowered the risk of dementia by 31%. The benefit held true for people with existing diagnoses of cardiometabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.”
Comment: “Is the brain on Fire” is an article published in the J. Neurology 1994;36:333. It alerted us to the dangers of refined sugars inflaming/caramelizing the brain.
