X-Message-Number: 27456
Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 17:25:54 +0000
From: Riso <>
Subject: Re:Life Extension with Zinc/Copper [Doug Skrecky]

Doug Skrecky wrote:

>Message #27455
>Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 16:14:32 -0800 (PST)
>Subject: Life Extension with Zinc/Copper
>
>                 Life Extension With Zinc/Copper
>                        By Doug Skrecky


Hi Doug, this is interesting. I have some questions:

skip

>    In the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) 4753 healthy persons aged
>  55 to 81 years were followed for a median of 6.5 years. Of these 534
>  (11%) died. Some subjects recieved a zinc/copper supplement, some
>  recieved an antioxidant supplement instead, while yet others recieved
>  both types of supplement. The zinc/copper supplement consisted of 80 mg
>  zinc as zinc oxide, and 2 mg of copper as cupric oxide. The antioxidant
>  supplement consisted of 500 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin E, and 15 mg
>  beta carotene. All-cause mortality was increased by 15% by the
>  antioxidant supplement, decreased 28% by zinc/copper, and decreased by
>  14% by their combination. Thus antioxidants appeared to exert a harmful
>  effect on survival, while zinc/copper offered a more powerful beneficial
>  effect.

Do you have any idea why the antioxidant supplement 
*increased*  mortality?.  I know correlation does not mean causation and 
that as the author says further studies are needed, but I am intrigued.

I wonder if the problem is with beta carotene as I remember a study in 
which taking a supplement of vitamin C and E correlated with decreased risk 
of Alzheimer s: "Reduced Risk of Alzheimer Disease in Users of  Antioxidant 
Vitamin Supplements" (Arch Neurol. 2004;61:82-88), so I think vitamin C and 
E should not be a problem.

Thanks,

Riso  

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=27456