Check out the interesting Scientific American article titled, “Brain’s Dumped DNA May Lead to Stress, Depression”. It describes how “genetic material from the mitochondria can trigger an immune response”. Accordingly, when our bodies are chronically stressed our mitochondria’s inherently limited repair mechanisms foster mitochondrial damage. Mitochondrial DNA is released into cell cytoplasm and eventually into the blood to fuel the growing demands on a stressed body’s heart, lungs, and muscles. Once mitochondria is leaked into the blood it binds to the TLR9 receptor on immune cells, made more likely due to its, “bacterial origin and its circular DNA structure”. Immune cells release cytokines and inflammation ensues. It is suggested, therefore, that drugs that improve modulation of cellular energy may improve our defense for affected psychiatric and biological disorders.
Interesting topic with one exception. It’s pretty common knowledge that in most people one of the benefits of a ketogenic diet is super low inflammtion levels. So where Elissa lost a lot of creditability with me is when she said red meat (especially processed) and sugar cause inflammation. I’ve seen personally seen clients start eating keto on meat and eggs including processed meat before cleaning it up and going grass-fed and not one, did not significantly decrease inflammation levels as per CRP test. I also can’t believe an “expert” on the topic would fail to mention seed oils as a cause for inflammation while signaling out red meat,
“The author evaluated the effects of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) on the amount of telomeres of normal cells and cancer cells and found the following: Contrary to the literature, which often recommended 25-50 mg of DHEA daily for the average adult human being, the author found that, depending on the individual, the maximum increase of normal cell telomere was obtained by a single optimal dose of 1.25-12.5 mg.
Cancer cell telomere reduced from higher than 1100 ng to less than 1 yg (=10(-24) g) with equally significant normalization of abnormal cancer parameters
On the other hand, if a patient took an excessive dose of DHEA, the amount of normal cell telomere DECREASED, while there was an increase in cancer cell telomere. It was found that those who took an overdose of 25-50 mg daily for more than 3 months had a high incidence of cancer of the prostate gland, breast, colon, lung, and stomach."
Now taking 15 mg / day.
I’ve seen no discussion of this study elsewhere though.
I also see little discussion of the potential issues regarding using other telomere lengthening supplements.
As far as meditation and telomere length…where’s the research on the effects of “sexual meditation” on telomere length? There are certain eastern religious practices related to this. Might be hard to get funding…but many volunteers?
I wouldn’t take the results of a single paper published in a rather obscure journal (Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research) too seriously. The author, Yoshiaki Omura, M.D., Sc.D, is the editor and chief of that journal and most of his publications seem to be there. There were no links in PubMed to getting the the full text, so I searched a bit. It’s available from the Journal for $46, but I wasn’t that interested:) https://preview.tinyurl.com/yy6nog6d. I also found it on researchgate.net: https://preview.tinyurl.com/yyxrejcg where you can request a copy from the author. I didn’t bother.
I think the abstract reveals enough. The “results” are based on the “Bi-Digital O-Ring Test” which was invented by the author. One might think that this is an accepted test that involves digital measurements or computers. It’s not. Digital refers to fingers, and and the Bi refers pulling from two directions and the “O-Ring” is how the subject holds their thumb and forefinger in an “O”. I’m not making this up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDORT . As per wikipedia, the Patent was finally (after two failed attempts) granted in 1993 “….After receiving expert testimony from Omura’s "associates in clinical fields and basic sciences, both in Japan and the United States” regarding BDORT, the USPTO issued US 5188107 in 1993.[1][13] The fact that a patent was granted to the BDORT has been cited as an example of ‘high weirdness’ by one firm of patent attorneys.[12]"
Using the same testing methodology the same author published a paper in 2016 claiming that the “optimal” 400 IU/d of Vitamin D was protective of cancer but that 2,000 to 5,000 IU can cause cancer. https://tinyurl.com/y6p4v2rq If that’s the case (which I’m sure it’s not), I’m doomed!
BTW, I’ve been taking 25-50 mg/d of DHEA on and off since the mid ‘90s and plan to continue doing so. I’m 74, and a retired aerospace engineer who has taken my health seriously since the early '80s. One of the possible concerns with DHEA supplements has been the possibility of increased prostate cancer risk based on its ability to raise testosterone levels. I test my PSA annually and it’s always been <1.0.
To be sure, there is debate on both sides of the PC risk question. Here’s a brief summary of the argument that DHEA may actually help prevent PC. There’s a 5 point summary at the end. https://tinyurl.com/yxre3z2p concluding with “Bottom line, I believe the benefits far outweigh any potential risks — and recommend that all of us who are growing older include DHEA in our supplement regimens to maintain healthy youthful levels of DHEA.”
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Check out the interesting Scientific American article titled, “Brain’s Dumped DNA May Lead to Stress, Depression”. It describes how “genetic material from the mitochondria can trigger an immune response”. Accordingly, when our bodies are chronically stressed our mitochondria’s inherently limited repair mechanisms foster mitochondrial damage. Mitochondrial DNA is released into cell cytoplasm and eventually into the blood to fuel the growing demands on a stressed body’s heart, lungs, and muscles. Once mitochondria is leaked into the blood it binds to the TLR9 receptor on immune cells, made more likely due to its, “bacterial origin and its circular DNA structure”. Immune cells release cytokines and inflammation ensues. It is suggested, therefore, that drugs that improve modulation of cellular energy may improve our defense for affected psychiatric and biological disorders.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-rsquo-s-dumped-dna-may-lead-to-stress-depression/
Interesting topic with one exception. It’s pretty common knowledge that in most people one of the benefits of a ketogenic diet is super low inflammtion levels. So where Elissa lost a lot of creditability with me is when she said red meat (especially processed) and sugar cause inflammation. I’ve seen personally seen clients start eating keto on meat and eggs including processed meat before cleaning it up and going grass-fed and not one, did not significantly decrease inflammation levels as per CRP test. I also can’t believe an “expert” on the topic would fail to mention seed oils as a cause for inflammation while signaling out red meat,
I’ve taken 25 to 50 mg DHEA / day for a good while…until…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16617690
“The author evaluated the effects of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) on the amount of telomeres of normal cells and cancer cells and found the following: Contrary to the literature, which often recommended 25-50 mg of DHEA daily for the average adult human being, the author found that, depending on the individual, the maximum increase of normal cell telomere was obtained by a single optimal dose of 1.25-12.5 mg.
Cancer cell telomere reduced from higher than 1100 ng to less than 1 yg (=10(-24) g) with equally significant normalization of abnormal cancer parameters
On the other hand, if a patient took an excessive dose of DHEA, the amount of normal cell telomere DECREASED, while there was an increase in cancer cell telomere. It was found that those who took an overdose of 25-50 mg daily for more than 3 months had a high incidence of cancer of the prostate gland, breast, colon, lung, and stomach."
Now taking 15 mg / day.
I’ve seen no discussion of this study elsewhere though.
I also see little discussion of the potential issues regarding using other telomere lengthening supplements.
As far as meditation and telomere length…where’s the research on the effects of “sexual meditation” on telomere length? There are certain eastern religious practices related to this. Might be hard to get funding…but many volunteers?
I wouldn’t take the results of a single paper published in a rather obscure journal (Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research) too seriously. The author, Yoshiaki Omura, M.D., Sc.D, is the editor and chief of that journal and most of his publications seem to be there. There were no links in PubMed to getting the the full text, so I searched a bit. It’s available from the Journal for $46, but I wasn’t that interested:) https://preview.tinyurl.com/yy6nog6d. I also found it on researchgate.net: https://preview.tinyurl.com/yyxrejcg where you can request a copy from the author. I didn’t bother.
I think the abstract reveals enough. The “results” are based on the “Bi-Digital O-Ring Test” which was invented by the author. One might think that this is an accepted test that involves digital measurements or computers. It’s not. Digital refers to fingers, and and the Bi refers pulling from two directions and the “O-Ring” is how the subject holds their thumb and forefinger in an “O”. I’m not making this up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDORT . As per wikipedia, the Patent was finally (after two failed attempts) granted in 1993 “….After receiving expert testimony from Omura’s "associates in clinical fields and basic sciences, both in Japan and the United States” regarding BDORT, the USPTO issued US 5188107 in 1993.[1][13] The fact that a patent was granted to the BDORT has been cited as an example of ‘high weirdness’ by one firm of patent attorneys.[12]"
Using the same testing methodology the same author published a paper in 2016 claiming that the “optimal” 400 IU/d of Vitamin D was protective of cancer but that 2,000 to 5,000 IU can cause cancer. https://tinyurl.com/y6p4v2rq If that’s the case (which I’m sure it’s not), I’m doomed!
BTW, I’ve been taking 25-50 mg/d of DHEA on and off since the mid ‘90s and plan to continue doing so. I’m 74, and a retired aerospace engineer who has taken my health seriously since the early '80s. One of the possible concerns with DHEA supplements has been the possibility of increased prostate cancer risk based on its ability to raise testosterone levels. I test my PSA annually and it’s always been <1.0.
To be sure, there is debate on both sides of the PC risk question. Here’s a brief summary of the argument that DHEA may actually help prevent PC. There’s a 5 point summary at the end. https://tinyurl.com/yxre3z2p concluding with “Bottom line, I believe the benefits far outweigh any potential risks — and recommend that all of us who are growing older include DHEA in our supplement regimens to maintain healthy youthful levels of DHEA.”