Activate Yourself using the Recent Advances in Anti-Aging Science.

See our most recent publication in "Aging Cell" (2009)

In the below article, we show that the active ingredient in benaGene^TM, oxaloacetate, increases lifespan in a manner similar to that seen in the calorie restricted metabolic state.

Oxaloacetate supplementation increases lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans through an AMPK/FOXO-dependent pathway

Williams DS, Cash A, Hamadani L, Diemer T.

Departments of Pharmacology and Neurosciences, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92130, USA.

Summary Reduced dietary intake increases lifespan in a wide variety of organisms. It also retards disease progression. We tested whether dietary supplementation of citric acid cycle metabolites could mimic this lifespan effect. We report that oxaloacetate supplementation increased lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. The increase was dependent on the transcription factor, FOXO/DAF-16, and the energy sensor, AMP-activated protein kinase, indicating involvement of a pathway that is also required for lifespan extension through dietary restriction. These results demonstrate that supplementation of the citric acid cycle metabolite, oxaloacetate, influences a longevity pathway, and suggest a tractable means of introducing the health-related benefits of dietary restriction.

See our recent publication in "Open Longevity Science" (2009)

In the below article, we review not only our previously published work, but also the work of many other researchers that document the ability of oxaloacetate supplementation (benaGene^TM) to reduce fasting glucose levels, it's action as a powerful antioxidant, protection of mitochondrial DNA (a big plus), and protection of eye, brain and pancreas tissues. We further provide a case study of a 73 year old woman who reduced and stabilized her glucose levels by taking benaGene^TM. In 75 days she reduced her fasting glucose levels by 24%, reduced her insulin resistance by 34%, and reduced the amplitude of her glucose "swings" by 55%. Persons with normal glucose functioning will see an increase in glucose uptake by the muscle tissue, and only a small drop in fasting glucose levels, but will still see the glucose stabilization effect. The paper documents how supplementation with oxaloacetic acid (benaGene^TM) acts to mimic at least some of the benefits of the calorie restricted state.

"Oxaloacetic Acid Supplementation as a Mimic of Calorie Restriction." To see this article, click on the "Hot Topic- Calorie Restriction Mimetics" link and then download the free article.

Abstract: The reduction in dietary intake leads to changes in metabolism and gene expression that increase lifespan, reduce the incidence of heart disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer's disease, type-2 diabetes and cancer. While all the molecular pathways which result in extended lifespan as a result of calorie restriction are not fully understood, some of these pathways that have resulted in lifespan expansion have been identified. Three molecular pathways activated by calorie restriction are also shown to be activated by supplementing the diet with the metabolite oxaloacetic acid. Animal studies supplementing oxaloacetic acid show an increase in lifespan and other substantial health benefits including mitochondrial DNA protection, and protection of retinal, neural and pancreatic tissues. Human studies indicate a substantial reduction in fasting glucose levels and improvement in insulin resistance. Supplementation with oxaloacetic acid may be a safer method to mimic calorie restriction than the use of traditional diabetes drugs.

Download for free: http://www.bentham.org/open/tolsj/openaccess2.htm and click on "Hot Topic: Calorie Restriction Mimetics". This will bring you to a page where you can download the article for free.

benaGene contains Oxaloacetate which the scientific literature has documented to:

Increase Lifespan and Health Span* ¹
Provide Potent antioxidant protection* ^2,3,4,5,6,7
Reduce fasting glucose levels and reduce insulin resistance* ^8,9
Protect brain mitochondrial DNA*¹⁰
Mimic some of the molecular pathways of Calorie Restriction* ^1,11
Protect rentinal RPE cells in age-related macular degeneration* ¹²
Protect prancreatic islet cells* ¹³
Protect brain neurons* ¹⁴
Prevent the growth of human lung cancer cells, while not affecting normal cells (in culture)* ¹⁵

While these tests have been conducted primarily on animals or in culture due to either the destructive nature of the tests, or the time to perform the tests, and do not prove efficacy in humans, they do provide an insight into the working mechanisms of oxaloacetate supplementation and has major implications for use in humans.*

References

1. Williams, D.S., et al., Oxaloacetate supplementation increases lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans through an AMPK/FOXO-dependent pathway. Aging Cell, 2009. 8(6): p. 765-768.

2. Desagher, S., J. Glowinski, and J. Premont, Pyruvate protects neurons against hydrogen peroxide-induced toxicity. J Neurosci, 1997. 17(23): p. 9060-7.

3. Desagher, S. and J.C. Martinou, Mitochondria as the central control point of apoptosis. Trends Cell Biol, 2000. 10(9): p. 369-77.

4. Bhattacharya, R. and R. Tulsawani, In vitro and in vivo evaluation of various carbonyl compounds against cyanide toxicity with particular reference to alpha-ketoglutaric acid. Drug Chem Toxicol, 2008. 31(1): p. 149-61.

5. O'Donnell-Tormey, J., et al., Secretion of pyruvate. An antioxidant defense of mammalian cells. J Exp Med, 1987. 165(2): p. 500-14.

6. Puntel, R.L., C.W. Nogueira, and J.B. Rocha, Krebs cycle intermediates modulate thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) production in rat brain in vitro. Neurochem Res, 2005. 30(2): p. 225-35.

7. Puntel, R.L., C.W. Nogueira, and J.B. Rocha, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors are involved in the quinolinic acid, but not in the malonate pro-oxidative activity in vitro. Neurochem Res, 2005. 30(3): p. 417-24.

8. Yoshikawa, K., Studies on the anti-diabetic effect of sodium oxaloacetate. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1968. 96(2): p. 127-41.

9. Cash, A., Oxaloacetic Acid Supplementation as a Mimic of Calorie Restriction. Open Longevity Science, 2009. 3: p. 22-27.

10. Yamamoto, H.A. and P.V. Mohanan, Effect of alpha-ketoglutarate and oxaloacetate on brain mitochondrial DNA damage and seizures induced by kainic acid in mice. Toxicol Lett, 2003. 143(2): p. 115-22.

11. Greer, E.L., et al., An AMPK-FOXO pathway mediates longevity induced by a novel method of dietary restriction in C. elegans. Curr Biol, 2007. 17(19): p. 1646-56.

12. Wood, J.P. and N.N. Osborne, Zinc and energy requirements in induction of oxidative stress to retinal pigmented epithelial cells. Neurochem Res, 2003. 28(10): p. 1525-33.

13. Chang, I., et al., Pyruvate inhibits zinc-mediated pancreatic islet cell death and diabetes. Diabetologia, 2003. 46(9): p. 1220-7.

14. Zlotnik, A., et al., Brain neuroprotection by scavenging blood glutamate. Exp Neurol, 2007. 203(1): p. 213-20.

15. Farah, I.O., Differential modulation of intracellular energetics in A549 and MRC-5 cells. Biomed Sci Instrum, 2007. 43: p. 110-5.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.