X-Message-Number: 30192
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:28:23 -0800 (PST)
From: 
Subject: Antiaging "drugs" may be available now

  [Case in point: acetyl-carnitine. Centenarians who take aspirin are
already known to experience reduced mortality, as are Japanese
centenarians who consume dairy products. I would like to suggest that the
time may be fast approaching when a deliberate attempt to extend human as
opposed to rodent lifespan may be appropriate. There is enough data out
there to make informed decisions on which supplements are likely to extend
centenarian lifespan. For example, the negligible serum levels of vitamin
D in centenarians points to a severe deficiency of vitamin D in this
population. Acetyl-carnitine, lipoic acid, vitamin D, and vitamin K2 are
just a few examples of supplements likely to extend human lifespan.
  The Life Extension Foundation has funded rodent longevity studies
in the past without any obvious return on their investment. I would
suggest that potential returns would be much higher with the conclusion of
a successful Centenarian Life Extension project. With a remaining
lifespan of only about 2 years, it would not take long to obtain a
successful conclusion to this project, and the potential return would be
much higher. Since this would be the first intervention trial in human, as
opposed to rodent longevity, this proposed project, if successful would be
front page news in every media outlet. Something to think about.]

Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;86(6):1738-44.
L-Carnitine treatment reduces severity of physical and mental fatigue and
increases cognitive functions in centenarians: a randomized and
controlled clinical trial.
  Malaguarnera M, Cammalleri L, Gargante MP, Vacante M, Colonna V, Motta M.
Department of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences,
University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
  BACKGROUND: Centenarians are characterized by weakness, decreasing
mental health, impaired mobility, and poor endurance. l-Carnitine is an
important contributor to cellular energy metabolism. OBJECTIVE: This
study evaluated the efficacy of l-carnitine on physical and mental
fatigue and on cognitive functions of centenarians. DESIGN: This was a
placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, 2-phase study. Sixty-six
centenarians with onset of fatigue after even slight physical activity
were recruited to the study. The 2 groups received either 2 g
levocarnitine once daily (n = 32) or placebo (n = 34). Efficacy measures
included changes in total fat mass, total muscle mass, serum
triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol,
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Activities of Daily Living, and a
6-min walking corridor test. RESULTS: At the end of the study
period, the levocarnitine-treated centenarians, compared with the placebo
group, showed significant improvements in the following markers: total
fat mass (-1.80 compared with 0.6 kg; P < 0.01), total muscle mass (3.80
compared with 0.8 kg; P < 0.01), plasma concentrations of total carnitine
(12.60 compared with -1.70 mumol; P < 0.05), plasma long-chain
acylcarnitine (1.50 compared with -0.1 mumol; P < 0.001), and plasma
short-chain acylcarnitine (6.0 compared with -1.50 mumol; P <
0.001). Significant differences were also found in physical fatigue
(-4.10 compared with -1.10; P < 0.01), mental fatigue (-2.70 compared with
0.30; P < 0.001), fatigue severity (-23.60 compared with 1.90; P <
0.001), and MMSE (4.1 compared with 0.6; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our
study indicates that oral administration of levocarnitine produces a
reduction of total fat mass, increases total muscular mass, and
facilitates an increased capacity for physical and cognitive activity by
reducing fatigue and improving cognitive functions.
PMID: 18065594

Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2007 Jul 19 [Epub ahead of print]
Acetyl l-carnitine (ALC) treatment in elderly patients with fatigue.
  Malaguarnera M, Gargante MP, Cristaldi E, Colonna V, Messano M,
Koverech A, Neri S, Vacante M, Cammalleri L, Motta M. Centro di Ricerca
"La Grande Senescenza", Universit  degli Studi di Catania, Via Messina
829, I-95126 Catania, Italy.
  Fatigue is one of the conditions most frequently complained by the
elderly. There are few effective treatment options for patients with
chronic fatigue syndrome. To determine the efficacy, tolerability and
impact on the fatigue, as well as on cognitive and functional status of
elderly subjects with acetyl l-carnitine (ALC), 96 aged subjects (>70
years, range 71-88) were investigated (50 females and 46 males; mean age
76.2+/-7.6 and 78.4+/-6.4 years, respectively). They met four or more of
the Holmes major criteria or at least six of Fukuda minor
criteria. Fatigue was measured with the Wessely and Powell [Wessely, S.,
Powell, R., 1989. Fatigue syndromes: a comparison of chronic postviral
fatigue with neuromuscular and affective
disorders. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 52, 940-948] scores, with the
fatigue severity scale. At the end of the treatment, we observed a
decrease of physical fatigue: 6.2 (p<0.001), of mental fatigue: 2.8
(p<0.001), of severity fatigue: 21.0 (p<0.001) and improvements in
functional status: 16.1 (p<0.001) and cognitive functions: 2.7
(p<0.001). By the end of the treatment, significant differences between
the two groups were found for the following parameters: muscle pain -27%
versus -3% (p<0.05); prolonged fatigue after exercise: 51% versus -4%
(p<0.0001); sleep disorders: 28% versus 4% (p<0.05); physical fatigue: 7
versus -0.5 (p<0.0001); mental fatigue: -3.3 versus 0.6
(p<0.0001); fatigue severity scale: -22.5 versus 1.2
(p<0.0001); functional status 17.1 versus 0.6 (p<0.0001); mini mental
state examination (MMSE) improvements: 3.4 versus 0.5 (p<0.0001). Our
data show that administering ALC may reduce both physical and mental
fatigue in elderly and improves both the cognitive status and physical
functions.
PMID: 17658628

Drugs Aging. 2003;20(10):761-7.Links
Levocarnitine administration in elderly subjects with rapid muscle
fatigue: effect on body composition, lipid profile and fatigue.
  Pistone G, Marino A, Leotta C, Dell'Arte S, Finocchiaro G, Malaguarnera
M. Department of Senescence, Urological and Neurological Sciences,
University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
  AIM: Levocarnitine is an important contributor to cellular energy
metabolism. This study aims to evaluate the effects of levocarnitine
supplementation on body composition, lipid profile and fatigue in elderly
subjects with rapid muscle fatigue. METHOD: This was a
placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, two-phase study. Eighty-four
elderly subjects with onset of fatigue following slight physical activity
were recruited to the study. Prior to randomisation all patients entered
a 2-week normalisation phase where they were given an 'ad libitum'diet,
according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (Step 2). Subjects
were asked to record their daily food intake every 2 days. Before the
30-day treatment phase, subjects were randomly assigned to two groups
(matched for male/female ratio, age and body mass index). One group
received levocarnitine 2g twice daily (n = 42) and the other placebo (n =
42). Efficacy measures included changes in total fat mass, total muscle
mass, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density
lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol
(LDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo)A1, and apoB levels. The Wessely and Powell
scale was used to evaluate physical and mental fatigue. Subjects were
assessed at the beginning and end of the study period. RESULTS: At the
end of the study, compared with placebo, the levocarnitine-treated
patients showed significant improvements in the following
parameters: total fat mass (-3.1 vs -0.5 kg), total muscle mass (+2.1 vs
+0.2 kg), total cholesterol (-1.2 vs +0.1 mmol/L), LDL-C (-1.1 vs -0.2
mmol/L), HDL-C (+0.2 vs +0.01 mmol/L), triglycerides (-0.3 vs 0.0
mmol/L), apoA1 (-0.2 vs 0.0 g/L), and apoB (-0.3 vs -0.1 g/L). Wessely
and Powell scores decreased significantly by 40% (physical
fatigue) and 45% (mental fatigue) in subjects taking levocarnitine,
compared with 11% and 8%, respectively, in the placebo group (p < 0.001
vs placebo for both parameters). No adverse events were reported in any
treatment group. CONCLUSION: Administration of levocarnitine to healthy
elderly subjects resulted in a reduction of total fat mass, an increase of
total muscle mass, and appeared to exert a favourable effect on fatigue
and serum lipids.
PMID: 12875611

Ophthalmologica. 2005 May-Jun;219(3):154-66.
Improvement of visual functions and fundus alterations in early
age-related macular degeneration treated with a combination of
acetyl-L-carnitine, n-3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10.
  Feher J, Kovacs B, Kovacs I, Schveoller M, Papale A, Balacco Gabrieli
C. Ophthalmic Neuroscience Program, Department of Ophthalmology,
University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy.
  The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical
trial was to determine the efficacy of a combination of
acetyl-L-carnitine, n-3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10 (Phototrop) on the
visual functions and fundus alterations in early age-related macular
degeneration (AMD). One hundred and six patients with a clinical diagnosis
of early AMD were randomized to the treated or control groups. The
primary efficacy variable was the change in the visual field mean defect
(VFMD) from baseline to 12 months of treatment, with secondary efficacy
parameters: visual acuity (Snellen chart and ETDRS chart), foveal
sensitivity as measured by perimetry, and fundus alterations as evaluated
according to the criteria of the International Classification and Grading
System for AMD. The mean change in all four parameters of visual
functions showed significant improvement in the treated
group by the end of the study period. In addition, in the treated group
only 1 out of 48 cases (2%) while in the placebo group 9 out of 53
(17%) showed clinically significant (>2.0 dB) worsening in VFMD (p =
0.006, odds ratio: 10.93). Decrease in drusen-covered area of treated
eyes was also statistically significant as compared to placebo when either
the most affected eyes (p = 0.045) or the less affected eyes (p =
0.017) were considered. These findings strongly suggested that an
appropriate combination of compounds which affect mitochondrial lipid
metabolism, may improve and subsequently stabilize visual functions, and
it may also improve fundus alterations in patients affected by early AMD.
PMID: 15947501

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=30192