Sunday June 14, 2009
Rejuvenate me!
ART OF HEALING By DR AMIR FARID ISAHAK
This is the continuation of updates on rejuvenation/regenerative therapies, some of which were discussed at a recent medical conference held in Kuala Lumpur.
IN the previous article (Rejuvenation therapies, Fit4Life, May 31), I wrote about stem cells and cell therapies. Today I will report on the role of nutrition, hormones and inflammation in reversing degenerative diseases.
Several experts advocate using high-dose nutritional supplements as therapy for many diseases, including cancer.
Insulin sensitivity
Insulin resistance is the underlying cause for the group of health problems designated as metabolic syndrome – hypertension, hyperglycaemia (and poor glucose tolerance), dyslipidaemia (abnormal lipid levels), and obesity. These abnormalities may then lead to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, and other diseases.
Therefore, an important step in rejuvenation and regenerative therapies is to increase the body’s insulin-sensitivity. This can be achieved naturally through adequate exercise, weight loss (for those who are overweight/obese), and a healthy nutrient-dense (but low-calorie) diet.
A high-calorie meal, sugar-loaded carbonated drinks (the sweetness is masked by the aeration), and even coffee will be disastrous for insulin sensitivity.
Nutrients like L-carnitine (widely used in weight-loss supplements as a fat-burner), carnosine (anti-ageing, antioxidant peptide), chromium (a natural source is brewer’s yeast), and vitamin K can improve insulin sensitivity.
Metformin – regenerative drug
Certain drugs like metformin (anti-diabetic) also improve insulin sensitivity. Although I promote natural and nutritional methods for health and healing, I do make an exception for metformin because after over 50 years of use, it has been found to be safe (under medical supervision), and confers many health benefits to the body. In appropriate doses, it has minimal side-effects compared to other drugs.
Metformin is actually extracted from the French lilac plant (Galega officinalis). It is the most widely used first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, and is approved by the World Health Organization. It is recommended for diabetics who are overweight or obese, and with normal kidney function (those with poor kidney function will be at higher risk of developing lactic acidosis).
Anti-ageing doctors prefer metformin in rejuvenation/regenerative therapy because of its proven effects in maintaining normal glucose levels, healthy weight, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol), and lowering triglyceride. Long-term use in diabetics has already shown that it can reduce liver damage, dyslipidaemia, obesity, hypertension, heart disease and overall mortality.
In pre-diabetics, it can reduce the progress to overt diabetes by half. Gynaecologists also use metformin to treat patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is also marked by insulin-resistance.
Since it is a prescription-only drug, it should only be taken under a doctor’s care. A dietary caution – coffee may block the effects of metformin.
Adinopectin – a regenerative hormone
Adinopectin is a hormone that is secreted by fat tissue, and its main functions are to cause fat cells to burn their fat and help regulate glucose levels. It increases insulin sensitivity, normalises glucose and lipid levels, is anti-inflammatory, and improves energy production. It induces weight loss, and prevents obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, the metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and certain types of liver disease.
Much research has been done on animals, and similar results have been obtained in the few human studies carried out. I hope it will not take too long before it becomes available for our use.
Although it is secreted by fat tissue, do not think that you have more adinopectin if you are obese. Fat people usually have lower levels of adinopectin, which suggests that the low hormone level may be responsible for the fat accumulation.
An interesting study done on mice with abundant adinopectin, but lacking leptin (a hormone that curbs appetite), showed that when given fatty meals, these mice stored minimal fat in the internal organs. They became fat, but had normal glucose tolerance and remained healthy.
Visceral fat (especially fat deposited in the heart and liver) is known to increase the risk of diseases, compared to fat deposited elsewhere. Fat deposited in the abdominal wall is an indicator of the extent of visceral fat deposition.
Adinopectin may explain why some obese people remain healthy and do not develop diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic complications while pot-bellied and less-overweight people do. It is not just how fat you are, but where the fat is deposited that matters.
In a future article, I will also discuss the roles of androgens and oestrogens (male and female sex hormones respectively) in determining where your fat goes.
Chronic silent inflammation
If you are a fan of the CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) TV series, you probably enjoy the fascinating sleuth work necessary to nab criminals. Well, medical scientists also have to do similar detective work to figure out what is behind all the diseases that confound us. And they believe they have found the culprit responsible for starting almost everything – from ageing, to heart disease, to cancer, and that is chronic silent inflammation (CSI). That means long-standing asymptomatic inflammatory damage to cells that trigger further changes, which finally lead to disease.
Heart disease is mostly due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the coronary arteries by thickened arterial lining, cholesterol deposits, minerals, cell debris, and blood clots). The process begins with the endothelial cells lining the lumen of the arteries becoming inflamed by free radicals, chemical toxins, infection, and metabolic by-products. Then a whole chain of events is triggered that will lead to the gradual thickening of the vessel wall, and consequent narrowing of the lumen.
The process occurs in the entire vascular system to a certain degree, causing varying damage to the organs due to reduced blood supply. However, the body often establishes collateral blood vessels to compensate for such narrowing. All organs are affected, and many gradually shrink in size (the brain shrinks about 1% per year after age 50) and reduction in function ensues.
CSI is believed to be the underlying starting point for many other diseases and cancers as well. To overcome this, we need to reduce the causes of inflammation, and counter those that have already gotten into our systems.
We need to reduce our toxin load (less pollution and less consumption of unnatural chemicals, including prescription drugs); stress (which increases free radical production and reduces our immune response); and exposure to infection (wash hands always and beware when eating uncooked food; wear a mask if there is risk of respiratory infection). We need to improve our immune systems by increasing antioxidant intakes (healthy diet and supplements if necessary), and ensure a healthy supply of protective, friendly bacteria in our guts as well as lead healthy lifestyles.
There are many nutrients that are known to increase our immunity that you may want to consider. For example, beta-glucans from mushrooms are known to increase immune cells and also stimulate stem cells. I will elaborate on the anti-inflammatory immune-boosters in future.
Food for thought
● The life expectancy of doctors in the US is about 10 years less than the average population.
● In 1973, Israeli doctors went on strike for a month, and there were 50% less deaths nationwide.
● In 1976, doctors in Colombia went on strike for two months, and 38% less people died.
● In 1978, doctors in England went on strike for a month, and there were 40% less funerals.
I leave it to you to make your own conclusions.
■ Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic, aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. He is a qigong master and founder of SuperQigong. For further information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
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