Ten Top Dietary Supplements

TEN TOP DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

According to Vince Giuliano

Updated February 2009

 

This is my FOURTH shot at ranking the topmost of the some 60+ supplements (some 135 pills) I take each day each day, according to how important I feel they are for my health and longevity.  I have also expanded the list of properties of some of the substances.  At this stage of scientific knowledge, longevity for me involves: 

 

        Taking advantage of  recent biotech breakthroughs that produce understanding of cellular and genetic effects known to prolong animal life and, at the same time, pending more breakthroughs, warding off the main killer diseases that mow down most old people in my age range: cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Parkinson’s, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Gout, etc.

        Studying and following the research literature on each of the substances I take.  There are new important developments just about every week now.  We are starting to learn how these substances work through complex genetic pathways affecting the expression and functions of hundreds of human genes.

        Taking multiple supplements that reinforce each other in their effects giving in-depth defense: anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, killing cancer cells, supporting high mental functionality, avoiding collagen cross-linking, clearing lipofuscin (a metabolic waste product) out of cells.

 

So here is my list of the top ten  supplements I take and why.  

 

  1. Resveratrol – a powerful antioxidant with known anti-cancer and cardiovascular protective effects that acts through known genetic mechanisms to extend the life of lower animals and life forms up to 35%.  Protects normal cells from radiation and other damage while causes cancer cells to destroy themselves. Facilitates cellular repair.  With other beneficial effects such as protecting against some neurological disorders.
  2. Fish oils or other supplements that contain a large amount of EPA and DHA.  Very important for the control of inflammation which is at the heart of many age-related diseases including various forms of heart trouble.  Potentially useful for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. With other beneficial effects such as warding off senile dementia, liver protection, balancing diets with lots of meat and minimizing discogenic pain.  
  3. Curcumin, the active ingredient in tumeric.  Also a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory with powerful known anti-cancer effects.  Helps control cholesterol, protects against Alzheimer’s disease and reverses cognitive function damage of Alzheimer’s Disease, as well as other beneficial effects.
  4. r-alpha lipoic acid – another powerful antioxidant known to be capable of penetrating into the mitochondria of cells (the energy-converting organs in cells) and preventing oxidative damage to them.  Inhibits reproduction of the HIV virus.  Reduces triglyceride and lipid accumulation in tissues.  Helps control body weight.  Prevents diabetes mellitus in obese diabetes-prone rats.
  5. Actyl-l-carnitine – a key substance related to cell metabolic processes that can also penetrate mitochondria and mitigate various pathologies that can affect cell metabolism.  A powerful antioxidant, also helps clear lipofuscin and fight tissue glycation. 

The combination of r-alpha lipoic acid and Actyl-l-carnitine is particularly powerful, impacting the mitochondrial health of all cells in the body.  The combination can repair damaged mitochondrial and restore functionality to what otherwise would be compromised cells.  Health implications include eyesight and hearing improvement, enhanced vitality and sexual drive.  Feeding these supplements to mice and lower life forms extends lifespans 20% to 30% compared to control groups.  I suggest taking 200mg of r-alpha lipoic acid and 500mg of Actyl-l-carnitine twice daily.

  1. Green tea – lots of it, and/or green tea extract.  Active ingredient Epigallocatechin Gallate reduces blood pressure, protects the heart against hypertension damage, protects against cancers, hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other aging-related disorders. Has anti-inflammatory effects and contributes to limiting protein-sugar crosslinking (glycation).  Important for weight control.
  2. Vitamin D-3 800 IU per day.  There have recently been major discoveries about the genetic actions of vitamin D and what it does.  Activating over 1,000 genes, it can help to prevent or mitigate autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cancers.  It is a particularly important supplement to take during the winters when there is insufficient UV light for the body to manufacture its own supply.
  3. L-Carnosine.  I take two 500mg caps twice a day.  This is a major pluripotent (having many effects) natural substance.  Besides being a powerful anti-oxidant protecting against free-radical damage, inhibits the formation of glycation (sugar-related protein cross linking) implicated in diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other diseases, is neuroprotective, and appears capable of delaying cell senescence in a number of cell types.  Clears accumulated lipofuscin.  I did a thorough literature review on this substance a few years back and continue to be impressed by it.
  4. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): I take 100 or 150mg twice daily.  Q10 is both an anti-inflammatory and a very powerful antioxidant that protects the mitochondria and lipid membranes.  It helps assure the production of cellular energy..  Research studies have shown that it can slow the progress of Parkinson’s Disease, protect against coronary artery disease, and can help prevent hearing loss.  Clinical trials evaluating CoQ10 have been undertaken for several neurodegenerative diseases.
  5. Astragalus root – I take six standardized capsules (0.5% astragolisides 250 mg per cap) per day.  A traditional Chinese medicinal herb, astragalus has been the subject of extensive recent biomedical research, clinical trials and pharmacological studies.  A powerful immunostimulant, it can restore the activity of a suppressed immune system.  Useful for prevention of the common cold, as an adjunct to cancer therapies, and for cardiovascular system improvement related to angina, congestive heart failure and acute myocardial infarcts .  Has senility-preventing, antioxidizing and hepatoprotective properties

This is just the top ten of my supplements, and there is much more to say about each one. And there are many other important ones.  If you are interested in my complete longevity program including all the supplements I take, you can read my Anti-Aging Firewalls paper.

 

Research publications supporting the above comments can be found by searching www.pubmed.org, a database of the National Library of Medicine.  Google searches can produce additional research citations along with sometimes-questionable claims of supplement-selling organizations.

 

Copyright 2008 by Vincent E. Giuliano. All rights reserved 

 

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THIS INFORMATION IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A LICENSED PHYSICIAN’S MEDICAL ADVICE. IF ANY ADVICE, OPINIONS, OR INSTRUCTIONS HEREIN CONFLICT WITH THAT OF A TREATING LICENSED PHYSICIAN, DEFER TO THE OPINION OF THE PHYSICIAN. THIS INFORMATION IS INTENDED FOR PEOPLE IN GOOD HEALTH. IT IS THE USER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW HIS OR HER MEDICAL HISTORY AND ENSURE THAT SUPPLIMENTS HE OR SHE TAKES DO NOT CREATE AN ADVERSE REACTION.


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