X-Message-Number: 27426
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:58:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: 1'st update on longevity marker experiments
This is the 1'st update on my longevity biomarker experiments.
Initially I've decided in investigate the effects of interventions on
only non-invasive biomarkers such as blood pressure, body weight, and
temperature. Although the first intervention (pomegranate juice) lasted 3
weeks, all subsequent interventions were shortened to just one week, so
as to expedite these experiments. Biomarkers were measured daily, and
averaged over a one week time frame.
Body weight was stable throughout the 14 weeks covered by this first
update, and so these measurements are not listed.
The impact of blood pressure on cardiovascular mortality is well summed
up by the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention trial (MRFIT). This
investigated 25,721 cardiovascular (CVD) related deaths in 342,815 men
originally aged 35 to 57 years. This is by far the largest study
investigating the effect of systolic and diastolic blood pressure on CVD
mortality, and because of its huge size I regard it as the definitive
study having the last word on this matter.
In (JAMA 2002 May22/29;287:2677-2683) a detailed breakdown of CVD
mortality is as follows:
men aged 35-44: CVD Deaths per 10,000 person-years
Diastolic
Systolic <80 80-84 85-89 90-99 >=100
<120 8.8 11.2 12.1 16.3 24.0
120-129 11.4 14.1 16.6 19.6 29.6
130-139 14.2 17.2 18.4 22.9 32.4
140-159 24.4 19.6 25.9 30.2 41.6
>=160 46.0 31.5 24.1 35.0 76.6
men aged 45-57: CVD Deaths per 10,000 person-years
Diastolic
Systolic <80 80-84 85-89 90-99 >=100
<120 27.0 31.5 38.1 40.5 56.0
120-129 39.0 37.4 39.7 49.3 53.0
130-139 53.5 47.2 49.5 56.0 77.2
140-159 70.9 66.0 70.5 73.8 83.6
>=160 140.3 107.3 110.4 105.8 129.9
To sum up: Diastolic had little independant influence on CVD mortality
in the 45-57 year aged group, except if it is over 100 mm Hg. The
dominant influence on CVD mortality is age, not blood pressure, as a mere
10 years of aging is roughly equivalent in its effects on CVD mortality
to a massive increase in systolic blood pressure of about 35 mm Hg. Thus
all efforts to hold the line on CVD mortality via blood pressure
reduction are ultimately doomed to failure, as in the end aging
overwhelms all blood pressure risk factors. The mechanisms whereby aging
dominates CVD mortality are a subject for another discussion.
Blood pressure measurements during the first 6 weeks were done at
various times during the day. However it soon became apparent that
measurements earlier in the day, before the first meal tended to be
slightly lower and more consistent. During the 7'th week, while a herbal
diuretic tea was being tested dual measurements were made both early and
later in the day for comparison purposes. Thereafter all measurements
were made early in the day.
Prior to commencing these experiments I had formed certain expectations
regarding the effectiveness of various interventions, based on my
readings of the medical literature. The null results for some these, such
as pomegranate juice surprised me, which reinforces the utility of these
experiments.
Based on the null result with Natural Factors' Anti-Ace Peptide
supplement, I am now of the opinion that this supplement may very well
contain no active ingrediants. Unlike prescription drugs, OTC supplements
are typically not tested in a double-blind placebo controlled trial to
verify effectiveness. With OTC supplements, the adage "Buyer Beware"
truly applies.
Potassium chloride has lowered blood pressure in a number of published
experiments, and even in the absence of an effect on blood pressure, has
lowered stroke risk due to a suppressive effect on free radicals. No
effect on my own systolic was noted, though there was a curious lowering
of diastolic, which was not repeated when I again tried No-Salt later.
Herbal Diuretic tea contains mostly fennel seed. No diuretic effect was
noted with this tea, and no benefit on blood pressure occurred.
High protein diets, and in particular fish consumption have been
associated with reduced systolic. However two entire salmon or bluefish
fillets a day effected, at best only a marginal, and very expensive
reduction.
Fish oil is reputed to exert a mild diuretic effect. However eight
capsules of a concentrated fish oil supplement were apparently
insufficient to have any significant impact.
Although sodium chloride has been strongly associated with increased
systolic, other sodium salts have tested out as completely innocous. My
trial with sodium citrate confirmed this property.
I'm interested in testing not only interventions to reduce blood
pressure, but also those which might increase it, so as identify what
items to avoid. In the biggest surprise to date, I found that consuming
two cans of salty Campbell soup per day was associated with the lowest
blood pressure in this update! Even if this was not a chance effect, I
doubt that the active ingrediant could be either chicken or rice, as
these are part of my base diet. This would appear to leave only the
peas, or as unlikely as it might seem, sodium chloride as the active
ingredients! Clearly, more testing is in order.
I have a somewhat reduced body temperature, which means I may be
somewhat less likely to develop cancer. The effect of added sodium salts
indicates that this benefit might be due in part, to my adoption of a low
sodium diet.
Intervention Systolic Diastolic Cost/day
____________________________________________________
control 140.2 86.6
200 ml pomegranate 138.6 84.4 $1.90/day
(same) 138.6 88.1 $1.90
(same) 140.1 84.9 $1.90
2 gm Anti-Ace Peptide 143.2 86.2 $3.33
1 tsp potassium chloride 140.7 80.0 $0.13
3 bags Herbal Diuretic tea 143.8 81.5 $0.90 (late in day)
(BP measurements early in the day before first meal)
Intervention Systolic Diastolic Temperature Cost/day
________________________________________________________________
3 bags Herbal Diuretic tea 137.3 83.7 - $0.90
428 calories salmon 134.7 85.6 - $7.99
(salmon) + 1 tsp KCL 136.6 85.0 - $8.12
856 calories salmon 133.6 83.4 - $16.11
608 calories bluefish 133.9 82.7 - $13.91
5.04 gm omega-3 134.0 82.1 97.1 $1.80
(same) + 1 tsp NA citrate 132.1 82.9 97.6 $2.00
2 cans of soup 128.7 80.8 97.6 $4.38
Details on interventions:
Knudsen Pomegranate juice
Natural Factors Anti-A.C.E. peptide
No-Salt potassium chloride
Traditional Medicinals Herbal Diuretic tea contains fennel seed,
cleaver's herb, uva ursi, buchu leaf.
High Liner salmon
High Liner bluefish
Natural Factors RXOmega-3 factors extra strength
Xenex sodium citrate
Campbell's Bean with Bacon soup (contains peas)
Campbell's Chicken with Rice soup
Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=27426