By Dr. Ronald Klatz & Dr. Robert Goldman

Longevity News and Review provides readers with the latest information in breakthroughs pertaining to the extension of the healthy human lifespan.  These news summaries are compiled by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M; www.worldhealth.net), a non-profit medical society composed of 24,000 physician and scientist members from 110 nations, united in a mission to advance biomedical technologies to detect, prevent, and treat aging related disease and to promote research into methods to retard and optimize the human aging process.   Dr. Ronald Klatz, M.D., D.O., A4M President, and Dr. Robert Goldman, M.D., Ph.D., D.O., FAASP, A4M Chairman, physician co-founders of the anti-aging medical movement, distill these headlines and provide their insightful commentary.

Lentils Lend Longevity
Kadambot Siddique, from The University of Western Australia (Australia, USA), and colleagues assessed soil samples in Bangladesh and Australia to determine the concentration of selenium in lentil seeds. Seed selenium concentration in Bangladesh studies averaged 312 ?g/kg compared with 200 ?g/kg in Australia. In both countries, research showed that different varieties of lentils and the location they were grown in was a factor for seed selenium concentration.  In Australia, they showed that applying 40grams per hectare (g/ha) of selenium directly on lentil plants during its reproductive stage increased its concentration in the seeds by more than 10 times from 200 micrograms per kilogram (?g/kg) to 2772 ?g/kg. The study authors submit that: “foliar application [selenium] is an efficient agronomic approach to improve seed [selenium] concentration for lentil consumers.”

Dr. Klatz observes: “ It is estimated that one billion people globally suffer from selenium deficiency due to low dietary intake in countries where soil selenium levels are low. A legume that is low in calories, rich in fiber, and a good source of protein, lentils (Lens culinaris subsp. culinaris) may be an affordable and accessible food to supplement the mineral. Australian researchers observe that in countries with low selenium consumption, lentils may be an affordable and accessible food to supplement the mineral.”

Big Health Payoff for Lifelong Fitness Commitment
Bryan G. Vopat and colleagues report that the positive effects of physical activity on maintaining bone density, muscle mass, ligament and tendon function, and cartilage volume are keys to optimal physical function and health.  The team highlights three exercise-based keys, namely: (1) Resistance training. Prolonged, intense resistance training can increase muscle strength, lean muscle and bone mass more consistently than aerobic exercise alone; (2) Endurance training. Sustained and at least moderately intensive aerobic training promotes heart health, increases oxygen consumption, and has been linked to other musculoskeletal benefits, including less accumulation of fat mass, maintenance of muscle strength and cartilage volumes; and (3) Flexibility and balance. Flexibility exercises are strongly recommended for active older adults to maintain range of motion, optimize performance and limit injury. Observing that: “An updated understanding of how active adults defy age helps orthopaedic surgeons not only manage their patients’ performance but also improve their lives,” the study authors urge that: “A large segment of sedentary older adults will benefit from counseling that encourages the pursuit of more active and healthier lifestyles.””

Remarks Dr. Goldman: “While it has been thought that aging causes an inevitable deterioration of the body and its ability to function, as well as increased rates of related injuries and diseases, emerging evidence based on senior, elite athletes suggests that a regimen of comprehensive fitness and nutrition routines helps minimize bone and joint health decline and maintain overall physical health.”

Spicy Protector
Eyal Raz, from the University of California/San Diego (UCSD; California, USA), and colleagues fed capsaicin to lab animals modeling multiple intestinal neoplasia.  The team observed that capsaicin activated an ion channel, TRPV1, which is expressed by epithelial cells of the intestines, where it is activated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) – initiating a direct negative feedback which dampens EGFR to reduce the risk of unwanted growth and intestinal tumor development.  The study authors submit that: “Our findings implicate TRPV1 as a regulator of growth factor signaling in the intestinal epithelium through activation of PTP1B and subsequent suppression of intestinal tumorigenesis.”

Comments Dr. Klatz:  “The active ingredient in chili peppers, capsaicin is shown by previous studies to exert anti-inflammatory effects.  This team reveals that when consumed in the diet, capsaicin activates a mechanism that may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.”

Anti-aging medicine is the fastest-growing medical specialty throughout the world and is founded on the application of advanced scientific and medical technologies for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related dysfunction, disorders, and diseases.  It is a healthcare model promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy lifespan in humans.  As such, anti-aging medicine is based on solid scientific principles of responsible medical care that are consistent with those applied in other preventive health specialties.  The goal of anti-aging medicine is not to merely prolong the total years of an individual’s life, but to ensure that those years are enjoyed in a productive and vital fashion.  Visit the A4M’s World Health Network website, at www.worldhealth.net, to learn more about the A4M and its educational endeavors and to sign-up for your free subscription o Longevity Magazine™ e-Journal.