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Biology Behind Osteoporosis Revealed in New Study

A new study published in the journal PNAS has uncovered the biology behind age-related bone loss. Researchers from Zhejiang University in China and the University of Alabama in Birmingham found that a protein known as Cbf-beta is essential at controlling the rate at which new bone cells replace old, dying cells.

Understanding Age-Related Bone Loss

Age-related bone loss is a progressive and serious disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone mass or produces too little new bone. This causes the bones to become weak and likely to break in a fall. In very serious cases, even minor bumps or sneezing can cause a fracture. Healthy bone resembles a honeycomb under a microscope. By comparison, bones that have lost mass have large spaces and holes.

This disease is serious and potentially life-threatening. Fractures from bone loss are most likely to occur in the wrist, spine or hip, but they can happen anywhere. Bone loss can limit mobility and the complications can be life-threatening to older adults. 20 percent of seniors who break a hip bone die within a year from the corrective surgery or fracture.

Age-related bone loss affects about 54 million people in the United States. It’s estimated that one in two women and one in four men over the age of 50 will suffer a bone fracture at some point due to bone loss. Women are four times more likely to develop bone loss as their bones are naturally thinner and they have a longer lifespan. Menopause, which stops estrogen production that helps use calcium, also plays a big role.

Risk factors for age-related bone loss include:

Age. Bone density peaks around 30. After that, bone mass begins to decline. This makes it more important to exercise and get enough vitamin D and calcium to maintain bone mass.
Family history.
Gender. Women are far more likely to develop bone loss.
Body weight and bone structure. Women who are thin and petite are more likely to lose bone mass than women with a larger frame.
Ethnicity. Asian and Caucasian women have a higher risk of bone loss than other ethnic groups.
Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Certain medications like steroids.
Smoking.
Heavy drinking.

The Mechanism Behind Osteoporosis Revealed

Previous research has found that progenitor cells, or immature cells in the body, remain in reserve until receiving genetic instructions from transcription factors to become a new type of cell. When it comes to bone tissue, progenitor cells become bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Depending on the genetic instructions, mesenchymal stem cells may mature into cartilage-producing cells (chondrocytes), bone-producing cells (osteoblasts) or fat cells (adipocytes).

In the recent study, after investigating transcription factors that control how progenitor cells mature, the researchers found that a protein called Cbf-beta was necessary to switch between bone-producing cells and fat cells. Until this study, it was unknown what controlled how progenitor cells matured to maintain the balance of bone formation.

This study involved engineering three groups of mice by deleting the Cbf-beta protein at different stages of progenitor cell maturation. All three groups of mice developed severe bone loss and accumulated fat in the bone marrow, much like the age-related bone loss in humans. This also led to increased levels of fat cell genes in progenitor cells and bone cells in the skulls of the mice without Cbf-beta.

After further research, the teams found that Cbf-beta works by activating a signal in a cell that blocks expression of the gene that causes progenitor cells to turn into fat cells. The researchers hope that this discovery will eventually lead to new ways to treat bone loss.

How to Guard Against Bone Loss

While bone loss begins to occur gradually as we age, there are many ways to protect healthy bone production. Staying active is one of the most important ways to protect your bones. The Cleveland Clinic recommends a specific exercise regimen for people with bone loss who have not suffered a fracture. This includes cardiovascular workouts and strengthening exercises.

Eating a healthy diet high in nutrients necessary to build bone and supplementing as necessary can ensure your body has what it needs to form new bone cells. The following are the most important nutrients for healthy bones.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is produced by the body after exposure to sunlight, but it can be found in some foods. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the United States and elsewhere. Vitamin D supplementation is often recommended to achieve recommended daily levels.

Calcium

Calcium is necessary for healthy growth and development of bones. Good calcium intake is also essential to achieve peak bone mass and it can modify the rate of bone loss as we age. Unfortunately, many adults in the United States fail to achieve the recommended daily calcium intake.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K has recently been found to play an important role in bone metabolism and bone health. Blood levels of vitamin K have even been found to be an indicator of hip fractures.

Phytoestrogens

Estrogen deficiency is one of the biggest contributing factors to the high rate of bone loss in post-menopausal women. This is why estrogen replacement therapy is still the only proven way to prevent and help reverse bone loss. Phytoestrogens may be a safer alternative. Also known as dietary estrogen, phytoestrogens are compounds that naturally occur in plant foods and structurally resemble natural estrogen.

MSM

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM is a sulfur-containing compound that’s found in grains, vegetables and fruits. This antioxidant is believed to reduce swelling and oxidative damage, especially after strenuous activities like exercising. One study conducted at the Department of Orthopedics at Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Israel found that patients who used MSM for 12 weeks reported an improvement in osteoarthritic symptoms.

Magnesium

While magnesium does not directly help bone growth, it is necessary to absorb calcium and MSM. Magnesium is necessary to convert vitamin D into its active form so it can activate calcium absorption.

Supplementing these important nutrients or a high-quality formula that provides two or more of these ingredients can help protect bone health as you age.

Powerful Compound Found in Chocolate and Green Tea Could Protect Against Diabetes

Sep 21 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Diabetes currently affects about 29 million Americans and nearly 86 million adults, i.e. one in three Americans are prediabetic. Diabetes is on the rise across the world due to rising rates of obesity and sugar consumption, with an estimated 592 million cases in the world by 2035. Preventing diabetes is a top concern for medical professionals and researchers. According to a new study, the benefits of catechins, which are antioxidants found in tea and chocolate, may offer a solution. Researchers found that catechins help prevent diabetes by improving the function of beta cells that produce, store and release insulin to control sugar levels.

Health Benefits of Catechins

Catechins are a special class of flavonoids, or plant-based chemicals with strong antioxidant benefits. Catechins are responsible for giving fruits their flavor and color and they appear to guard against cardiovascular disease, cancer and other chronic diseases.

There is compelling scientific research that catechins help prevent heart disease. According to one study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, people who regularly drink green or oolong tea have a 46-65 percent lower risk of hypertension than people who do not drink tea. Research suggests that people who drink at least two cups a day of tea have a lower risk of stroke and heart disease as well as lower LDL and total cholesterol. There is also evidence that regular tea drinkers recover faster from heart attacks. The antioxidant effect of catechins helps block oxidation of LDL cholesterol, improve HDL (good) cholesterol, and improve the function of arteries.

Catechins may also help guard against Alzheimer’s disease and promote healthy cell growth. Numerous studies have found a link between green tea consumption and a lower risk of cancer, including breast, ovarian, lung, bladder, esophageal, skin and colon cancer.

Catechins and Diabetes

The hormone insulin, which is made, stored and released by beta cells in the pancreas, is at the root of this chronic condition. Insulin controls and regulates levels of blood sugar to ensure levels do not get high enough to damage organs or low enough to impact bodily functions. Type 2 diabetes reduces sensitivity to insulin, which means the body needs more insulin to achieve the same effect. Research has also shown that diabetes reduces the ability of beta cells to produce and release insulin, possibly due to higher rates of beta cell death.

A study recently published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry investigated whether active chemicals in cocoa could help prevent diabetes.

A team of researchers from Virginia Tech and Brigham Young University has been searching for ways to improve beta cell performance and prevent the onset of diabetes. The team decided to investigate flavonoids in cocoa due to prior research that showed beta cells are very sensitive to oxidative stress.

The team found that rats on a high-fat diet that included cocoa had lower rates of obesity and a greater ability to handle higher levels of glucose. The scientists also found an increase in the expression of genes that promote a response to oxidative stress and mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of cells like beta cells.

The authors of the study pointed out that consuming high-sugar chocolate will not guard against diabetes and it would be necessary to consume a great deal of cocoa to see any protective benefit. Instead, it’s the active compounds in cocoa that may offer protection against diabetes when consumed in greater concentrations.

How to Increase Your Intake of Catechins

The most well-known source of catechins is green tea. A half-cup of green tea contains 2.6 milligrams of catechins while a serving of black tea contains 1.5 milligrams. Catechins can also be found in several foods if you don’t enjoy green or black tea.

Some of the best food sources of catechins include:

Apples, which are rich in plant-based chemicals that include catechins. Most of the catechins in apples are in the skin.
Blackberries. There are about 37 milligrams of catechins in 3/4 cup of blackberries, which is nearly 14 times the amount in brewed green tea. Catechins in fruit can’t survive being processed, so it’s important to eat the fruit raw. You can also get catechins from cranberries, raspberries and blueberries, but their concentration is not as high as blackberries. In general, the darker the berry, the greater the concentration of catechins.
Red wine. The catechin concentration of red wine is due to the fermentation process of grapes, which are naturally high in catechins. The darker the grape, the greater the number of catechins. While white wine may have no catechins at all, red wine can have anywhere from seven to 24 milligrams per cup. It’s recommended that adults consume no more than a single five-ounce glass of wine per day to enjoy the health benefits.
Dark chocolate. Many of the health benefits of dark chocolate, including its ability to lower blood pressure, are attributed to its concentration of catechins. Every ounce of dark chocolate contains about 3.6 milligrams of catechins. Milk chocolate is not a sufficient replacement as it’s more processed with sugar and milk which destroys most of the catechins.
Pears. Pears are one of the most commonly consumed sources of catechins although they only contain about 0.3 milligrams per 3/4 cup serving.
Cherries. Cherries have been found to reduce the risk of diabetes, inflammatory disease and cardiovascular disease thanks to their antioxidant benefits. A 3/4 cup serving of cherries contains about 1.3 milligrams of catechins.
Fava beans. It’s not only fruits that are rich in flavonoids; fava beans contain more catechins than cherries, apples and pears put together. Cooked fava beans have between 8 and 12 milligrams of catechins per 3/4 cup.
Sweet potatoes. Purple and sweet potatoes contain about two times as many flavonoids like catechins than white potatoes and four times the amount of phenolic acids, another type of antioxidant.

If you find it difficult to eat a diet rich in catechin-containing foods, you can complement your diet with high-quality supplements that contain these powerful compounds.

Omega-3 and Gut Health: How Fatty Acids Encourage Bacterial Diversity

Sep 20 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

While previous research has found that omega-3 fatty acids can help with inflammatory bowel disease and much more, a new study has shed more light on the link between omega-3 and gut health. According to the study, people who eat a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids have greater bacterial diversity in their guts. This can promote improved overall health.

What are Omega-3 Fatty Acids?

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids. Fatty acids are considered essential to health, but our bodies can’t make them. Instead, we must consume them through food.

Omega-3 fatty acids have numerous proven benefits. Fatty acids appear to reduce LDL or “bad” cholesterol, reduce high blood pressure and support healthy cardiovascular function. Research has suggested omega-3 fatty acids can even reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, strengthen bones and guard against age-related cognitive decline.

A recent study published in Nature Communications found that omega-3 fatty acids also play a big role in metabolism and weight gain. The study suggested that omega-3 can activate beige and brown fat, boost metabolism and guard against obesity and related conditions like Type 2 diabetes. Brown fat differs from regular white fat, which stores calories. Brown fat burns energy and produces heat. It was previously believed that only babies had brown fat as they do not have the ability to shiver to maintain body temperature, but research has found otherwise. When brown fat deposits are activated, calories are converted to heat and white fat deposits are reduced.

When it comes to omega-3 fatty acids and digestion, it’s believed that omega-3 helps maintain a balance of bacteria in the gut while encouraging the growth of good bacteria. Because omega-3 has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, it can also reduce the effects of inflammatory bowel disorders like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. One study suggested that daily intake of omega-3 fatty acid may help prevent or induce remission of inflammatory bowel disease.

The Link Between Omega-3 and Gut Health

The human gut supports a diverse population of bacteria that are essential to overall health. It’s estimated that 38 trillion bacteria live in the average human gut and work to keep the immune system healthy. Low microbial diversity of the gut has been linked to bowel cancer, irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions.

A new study published in Scientific Reports, led by Dr. Ana Valdes of the University of Nottingham and a team of researchers, set out to investigate the link between omega-3 consumption and microbial diversity in the guts of middle-aged and senior women.

The team examined levels of DHA, a form of omega-3 fatty acid, omega-3 serum levels and microbiome data from almost 900 twins. The same group of women had previously been used to analyze human genetic contribution to bacteria in the gut and how it relates to disease and weight gain.

According to the researchers, omega-3 fatty acids improve the biodiversity of gut bacteria. Higher consumption of omega-3 and higher serum levels of omega-3 were “Strongly associated with the diversity and number of species of healthy bacteria in the gut,” Dr. Valdes reported. The researchers also found that people who consumed more omega-3 fatty acids had higher levels of specific bacteria previously associated with a lower risk of obesity and inflammation.

After conducting further investigation, the researchers found that high levels of omega-3 fatty acids were linked with high levels of a compound known as NCG in the gut. In animal studies, NCG has been found to reduce oxidative stress in the gut. The team believes at least some of the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the gut occur because omega-3 induces bacteria to produce NCG.

How to Increase Omega-3 Consumption

The best natural source of omega-3 fatty acids is fish, which has forms of omega-3 called DHA and EPA. A form of omega-3 called ALA is found in vegetable oil, dark leafy greens and walnuts, but the body is not able to produce as much omega-3 from ALA as from fatty fish sources. A dose of 600mg per day is usually recommended for adults.

Good sources of omega-3 fatty acid include:

mackerel: 4,107 mg of omega-3 fatty acid per serving
salmon: 4,023 mg per serving
cod liver oil: 2,664 mg per serving
herring: 3,181 mg per serving
oysters: 565 mg per serving
sardines: 2,205 mg per serving
anchovies: 951 mg per serving
flaxseeds: 2,338 mg per serving
chia seeds: 4,915 mg per serving
walnuts: 2,542 mg per serving

If you have trouble consuming a diet high in fish, another option is taking an omega-3 fatty acid supplement. Omega-3 supplements make it easier to hit the daily recommended dose without eating fish every day. Supplements can contain omega-3 fatty acids from a fish source without the taste of fish.

Study Links Adult Development of Schizophrenia and Diet During Pregnancy

Sep 15 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

All expecting parents want to give their baby the best chance at a healthy and happy life. However, until recently there was very little data on exactly how to accomplish this goal. New research on the effects of nutrition in pregnancy is yielding hard data on exactly what comprises a healthy prenatal diet. Surprisingly, there may even be links between psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and diet in pregnancy.

Living with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most serious mental illnesses affecting mankind. People with this disease struggle with delusions, hallucinations and cognitive changes. They also have trouble expressing emotions, with many suffering from a flat affect, or a face devoid of emotion. Over time, they lose interest in social activities and become increasingly closed in their own world. Their behavior and speech become disorganized and then completely nonfunctional.

In the past, people believed that schizophrenics were possessed by demons. In modern times, however, we understand that schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain. The brain undergoes atrophy in areas related to emotion and judgment. In addition, dopamine levels increase and cause frenetic biochemical activity. Schizophrenia is a progressive disease that causes structural changes that cannot be reversed. Prevention along with early identification and treatment are the only solutions currently offered by modern medicine. Learning more about how prenatal nutrition impacts schizophrenia could change the lives of many people suffering from this illness.

The Link Between Schizophrenia and Diet in Pregnancy

Omega-3 and omega-6 acids are known to be important in prenatal brain growth. New research suggests that a lack of these nutrients may increase the fetus’ risk of developing schizophrenia over the course of a lifetime. When pregnant mice were deprived of these two polyunsaturated fatty acids, their offspring developed a flat affect (or expression), disordered behavior and other symptoms that are similar to schizophrenia. The mice also developed brain changes associated with schizophrenia.

How can omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have this large of an impact? Researchers found that these fatty acids actually affect the transcription of key genes. These genes govern the expression of key neurotransmitters and are decreased in both fetuses deprived of fatty acids as well as schizophrenics. Genes that support the health of oligodendrocytes, which pass messages in the brain, were also downregulated in these mice, which may be a cause of the structural brain changes seen in this mental illness.

The Impact of Diet on a Growing Brain

Omega-3 fatty acids have been previously found to be important in the brain health of adults, slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and providing a wide variety of cognitive benefit. They appear to be especially important to the rapidly growing brain of a fetus. However, this study is not the only link between maternal diet and schizophrenia. Another recent study found that eating too much of the essential amino acid methionine could also increase the offspring’s risk of schizophrenia. Pregnant mice that were fed three times the normal daily amount of methionine had offspring that showed behavior associated with schizophrenia. When researchers examined their brains, they found that the gene Npas4 had been downregulated, a change also seen in the brains of human schizophrenics.

Methionine is found in cheese, eggs, nuts and other foods that are considered healthy. While pregnant women can enjoy these foods without risk to their future offspring, it is important that they do so in moderation. These studies underscore that a rich and varied diet appears to be one of the most important factors in the health of the fetus.

Good Nutrition for a Lifetime of Health

There are several simple changes that women can make to their diets to increase the chances of good health in their babies. Several studies on the impact of maternal nutrition have found that the following dietary measures are most important:

beginning pregnancy with a healthy BMI
taking a folic acid supplement and avoiding medications that affect folate metabolism
getting plenty of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3s and omega-6s
eating protein from a wide variety of sources
choosing moderation in sugars and simple carbs
taking a multivitamin or high-quality prenatal supplement
eating iron-rich foods and taking an iron supplement if necessary to avoid fetal anemia
taking in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to get an ample supply of vitamins and phytonutrients

As with all health decisions in pregnancy, it is crucial that women discuss their health and their diet with their doctor. Many women have special dietary needs that their doctor can help them to identify and treat.

Pregnancy is one of the most special times in many women’s lives. Eating a healthy diet is one of the simplest and most delicious ways to give your baby the right start in life. New studies are showing that good nutrition is crucial to maintaining whole body health, both for mother and for the child.

8 Ways to Naturally Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Sep 08 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

High cholesterol is one of the greatest risk factors for coronary artery disease, stroke and heart attack. While prescription statins can be an effective way to reduce bad cholesterol levels, they aren’t enough for many adults and they come with side effects. Here are some of the most effective science-backed ways to naturally maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

The Importance of Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a fatty-like substance found in cells that’s necessary to make vitamin D, hormones and some substances for digestion. Cholesterol isn’t bad, because the human body needs it to build cells and hormones, but too much cholesterol can be harmful.

There are two types of cholesterol: LDL or “bad” cholesterol and HDL or “good” cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol and not enough HDL cholesterol can increase the risk of cholesterol building up within arteries that feed the brain and heart. LDL cholesterol contributes to this fatty buildup in arteries called atherosclerosis which increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and peripheral artery disease.

HDL cholesterol works a bit differently. It’s believed that this type of cholesterol works as a scavenger to carry LDL cholesterol away from arteries and transport it to the liver so it can be broken down. Healthy HDL cholesterol levels appear to protect against stroke and heart disease.

Now that you have a better understanding of how cholesterol works, it’s time to learn ways to naturally maintain healthier levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol.

Grape Seed Extract

Grapes have long been known for their health benefits, but it wasn’t until recently that scientists were able to understand why. Grape seed extract has been found in several studies to have heart health benefits, including the ability to support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This is due to a high concentration of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs).

According to one study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, grape seed extract can help lower oxidized LDL (bad) cholesterol particles. In this study, 52 people with moderately high cholesterol levels received either a placebo or 200 mg/day of grape seed extract. After eight weeks, the group receiving grape seed extract experienced an average 10.7 mg/dL drop in total cholesterol while LDL cholesterol dropped by an average of 9.7 mg/dL.

Purple Fruits and Vegetables

Purple vegetables and fruits appear to be effective at improving good HDL cholesterol due to unique antioxidants called anthocyanins. Extracts of anthocyanin have been shown in studies to fight free radical damage and possibly raise HDL cholesterol levels.

A 24-week study published in the Journal of Nutrition on participants with diabetes also found that those who took an anthocyanin supplement two times a day had a 19 percent average increase in HDL cholesterol plus other improvements in heart health markers.

Along with taking supplements containing anthocyanin extract, you can eat a diet rich in purple or blue vegetables and fruits like eggplant, blueberries, figs, red cabbage, acai berries and even purple cauliflower.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is the only form of monounsaturated fat that appears to reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a massive analysis of 42 studies involving over 800,000 participants published in Lipids in Health and Disease. It appears that olive oil offers heart health benefits primarily by increasing HDL or “good” cholesterol thanks to its antioxidants called polyphenols.

Not all types of olive oil are equal. Extra virgin olive oil has a higher concentration of polyphenols than olive oils that are more processed, but the amount of polyphenols can still vary by brand. One study found that healthy young men who consumed two tablespoons of different types of olive oil each day had HDL levels significantly higher after three weeks when they consumed olive oil with the higher amount of polyphenols.

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish like sardines, salmon and mackerel are rich in omega-3 fats that have been shown in numerous studies to reduce inflammation and support healthy functioning of cells lining the arteries. Research also indicates that eating fatty fish or taking fish oil supplements supports healthy levels of good HDL cholesterol.

One study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology found that coronary heart disease patients who ate fatty fish four times per week had higher HDL cholesterol levels as well as larger HDL particles.

High-Intensity Exercise

Any form of exercise is an effective way to achieve healthy cholesterol levels, including aerobic exercise, strength training and high-intensity exercise. Still, high-intensity exercise appears to produce the biggest increase in good cholesterol levels.

A 12-week study published in Lipids in Health and Disease involving overweight men found than high-intensity exercise produced an average increase 10 percent of HDL cholesterol while the low-intensity group experienced just a 2 percent increase.

Exercising at least a few times a week can help improve cholesterol levels. Any type of exercise can be beneficial, but high-intensity types of exercise are most effective if cholesterol is a concern.

Green Tea Extract

Some studies have indicated that green tea and tea extract can help promote healthier LDL cholesterol levels as well as healthy blood sugar and blood pressure, other markers of heart health, thanks to the high concentration of antioxidant polyphenols in tea. One study published in 2003 found that people with moderately high cholesterol who took a tea extract for 12 weeks experienced a 16 percent average decline in LDL cholesterol. A separate study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that drinking green tea or taking a tea extract is linked to a significant reduction in bad cholesterol levels.

Niacin

Niacin or vitamin B3 is commonly prescribed along with statin drugs like Crestor to lower cholesterol. Niacin can be extremely effective at promoting higher HDL cholesterol levels. Numerous studies have found that niacin can increase good cholesterol levels while reducing triglycerides, and it has some effect on maintaining healthier levels of bad cholesterol. At the right dose, niacin has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol by up to 30 percent.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes and red wine, offers some promise in protecting against heart disease. One study in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences even concluded that resveratrol helps protect against atherosclerosis by supporting healthy levels of bad cholesterol and by its effects on inflammation.

The link between red wine and a lower risk of heart attacks and heart disease isn’t completely understood yet, but resveratrol is believed to increase levels of good cholesterol to protect against a build-up of cholesterol in the arteries.

Our Resverchron supplement is a complete, broad-spectrum regimen designed with heart health in mind. With a combination of the best-researched nutrients, extracts and minerals found to promote healthy cholesterol and blood pressure within normal ranges as well as a healthy cardiovascular system. Resverchron contains resveratrol, plus grape seed extract, niacin, green tea extract, Omega-3 fatty acids and more — all in a single supplement.

Melatonin in Blood-Brain Barrier May Protect Against Neurological Disease

Sep 05 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

According to a new study, melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness, may help prevent neurological disease by maintaining the integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Many forms of neurological disease, including Alzheimer’s and other conditions that affect seniors, begin with damage to the BBB. Researchers have also noted lower levels of melatonin in older adults. The link between melatonin and neurological diseases may help researchers prevent or treat common conditions like Alzheimer’s, ALS, stroke and traumatic brain injury.

What is the Blood Brain Barrier?

The blood brain barrier is a semipermeable barrier around the brain and spinal cord that only allows certain substances through. The BBB is composed of endothelial cells which are found in capillaries in other parts of the body, but the cells in the blood brain barrier are very specialized and tightly packed. The BBB works to protect the brain, but it can create problems in the treatment of brain disorders as medications typically cannot pass the barrier.

Research has found that various stimuli to the BBB can cause disruption, which may lead to neurological disease. In people who have certain brain injuries or neurological diseases, this barrier does not work as it should and allows pathogens and dangerous molecules into the brain.

Neurological Diseases and the BBB

Disruption or damage of the BBB plays an important role in cell damage in neurological diseases. Previous research has found that many neurological diseases have common defects in the blood brain barrier including epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, ALS and traumatic brain injury. While these conditions all affect the central nervous system in a different way, a study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology found they share defects that can be traced to one set of genes.

The team of researchers found that with these diseases, the dysfunction in the BBB is a major contributor to symptoms and the progression of the disease.

Melatonin and Neurological Diseases: What’s the Link?

A new study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience aimed to identify a treatment to maintain the integrity of the blood brain barrier to potentially prevent neurological diseases.

One of the most common forms of stress on the BBB in the elderly is sepsis, a systemic inflammatory response to infection that can cause neurological problems. Sepsis also causes lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to be released into the blood where it damages the integrity of the
blood brain barrier. LPS can produce neuroinflammation and BBB disruption. It has also been found to increase the permeability of the BBB in vitro.

Melatonin was been found to preserve the integrity of the blood brain barrier in many ways, including inhibiting MMP-9 and NADPH oxidase-2. It has also been found to alleviate BBB damage caused by LPS in elderly mice by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibiting gp91phox. In septic mice, melatonin was able to block the septic response in the body by disrupting neurological connections. Melatonin may also help protect organs from damage caused by sepsis.

It appears that low levels of melatonin in older mice (and humans) may contribute to the disruption of BBB in the face of stimuli like sepsis. In a study published in the Journal of Pineal Research, scientists were able to demonstrate that a short one-week treatment of melatonin was able to significantly reduce LPS-induced damage to the blood brain barrier.

This led researchers to suggest that supplementing with melatonin may reduce the risk of neurological disease in seniors by maintaining the integrity of the blood brain barrier while encouraging more frequent use in the medical field due to melatonin’s low toxicity and high efficacy.

Previous Studies on Melatonin and Brain Health

The ability of melatonin to treat LPS-induced BBB damage is exciting, but this is only the most recent discovery about the function of melatonin in the brain. Melatonin was once considered little more than a sleep aid for occasional sleeplessness, but a number of recent studies have found that it can potentially improve cognitive function and reduce trauma caused by a brain injury.

One study published in the Journal of Pineal Research found that melatonin may offer protection against irreversible brain damage caused by trauma or stroke. Researchers discovered that a 30-day treatment of melatonin 24 hours after an induced stroke improved the survival of brain cells in mice and improved recovery in injured cells. The mice treated with melatonin following a stroke also had a better long-term prognosis in terms of coordination and motor function, two areas that are commonly affected by stroke in humans.

Another important study found that melatonin has favorable effects on the metabolism of amyloid-beta proteins, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers found that after administering low doses of melatonin for 10 days, it improved cognition and reduced levels of these inflammatory proteins in the brains of animals.

Several other groups have demonstrated this same beneficial effect in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease to potentially improve cognitive function, inhibition of beta-amyloid deposits, and reduction of anti-oxidative injury.