Astragalus, Broccoli seed extract, and Rhodiola have been found to increase telomerase activity (1). Our body produces this enzyme and influences the aging process.
Astragalus root has been found to boost energy and provide immune support. (2)
Broccoli seed extract enhances the body’s tolerance to stress (3).
The seed extract is more concentrated in therapeutic components that eating fully grown broccoli alone. Studies have found it to be effective in supporting detoxification of the liver along with reducing replication rate of cancer cells (4).
Rhodiola is known as “Arctic root”. This plant is found in high altitude, mountainous regions in Europe and Asia. Many use this plant as an adaptogen to help prevent stress that can throw off hormones and induce fatigue. (5)
Understanding the make up of the body and the aging process
Telomeres are structures that appear at the end of our chromosomes, comprised of DNA. Some scientists compare them to the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces that keep laces held together. Telomeres keep the chromosomes from fraying or tangling together, which can lead to a variety of health issues. However, the thing about telomeres is that they aren’t immortal, and this is where issues arise. (6)
Our cells are in a cycle of constantly replenishing themselves. Each time a cell replicates, telomeres get a little bit shorter. Eventually, the telomeres get too short to split. This leads to cells aging, not functioning properly, and eventually dying. Telomere length is seen as a way to determine the biological age of a cell.
What impacts telomere length
The link between telomere length and biological vs chronological age is important, as it gives us an insight into potential ways we can support telomere length. Scientists have discovered that several different factors are associated with telomere length. These include:
o Proper nourishment
o Physical exercise
o Lack of sleep
o Depression
o Genetic mutations
In terms of mental health, advanced stress in general can be a potential cause of telomere shortening. One study showed that children who had difficult childhoods also have shorter telomeres. These included childhoods filled with violence, institutionalization, and poverty. (7) Studies also indicate shortened telomeres may be one of the causative factors responsible for male (8) and female (9) infertility.
How we support telomeres
Healthy lifestyle changes have been associated with improved telomere length.
Here are some of the most studied practices:
Antioxidant-Rich Foods/Vitamins: Oxidative stress is a major source of cell damage, including potentially damaging telomeres. Damage can be caused by pollution, smoking, excess alcohol consumption, preservatives, infections, etc. Foods like berries and artichokes have high levels of antioxidants that help to mitigate the effects of oxidative damage. One study showed that women who took a multivitamin daily had 5% longer telomeres than those who did not. (10)
Physical Activity: A good workout can make you feel young again. One study showed that people who do exercise were 3% less likely to have abnormally short telomeres than people who don’t exercise at all. Frequent exercise tended to lead to longer telomeres.
Stress Management: We mentioned before how stressful environments are correlated with shorter telomeres. While you can’t get rid of every stressful influence in your life, there are things you can do to help handle these issues. Seeing a mental health professional is a good starting point, but you can also utilize practices like yoga and meditation to help you stay calm. In fact, one study showed that women who practiced mindfulness meditation and yoga kept their telomeres at the same length. By comparison, women in the control group, who did not practice yoga or mindful breathing showed shorter telomeres over the study period. (11)
Supplementation:
Current study has shown that N-acetyl-L-cysteine, L-carnosine, Rhodiola, vitamin D3, chia seeds, broccoli seeds, and Astragalus extract all increased telomerase activity (1).
Astragalus, Broccoli sprout extract, and Rhodiola performed best at increasing telomere length. These ingredients along with 500 IU Vitamin D3 are in Enzymedica Telomere Plus. Studies in mice showed that mice lacking in telomerase aged prematurely, but became healthier when the enzyme was replaced.(12) Non-GMO Telomere Plus blend was shown to increase telomerase activity up to 290%. (1) See findings below.
Here is a review of the Roskamp Institute research findings:
Reference:
1. Ait-Ghezala, G., PhD, et al. (2016). Identification of Telomerase-activating Blends from Naturally Occurring Compounds. Alternative Therapies, 22(S2), 6-14.
2. Harley, C.B., Andrews, W.H., Blasco, M., Briggs, L.A., Liu, W., Raffaele, J.M. and Vera, E. “A natural product telomerase activator as part of a health maintenance program.” Rejuvenation Res. 2011 Feb; 14(1): 45-56.
3. “Emerging Science FAQs.” SGS Long-Lasting Antioxidant. Brassica Protection Products. Web. Retrieved 17 Dec 2014. <http: //www.sgs-broccoli.com/emerging-science/faqs>
4. Fahey, J. et al. Broccoli sprouts: An exceptionally rich source of inducers of enzymes that protect against chemical carcinogens. PNAS September 16, 1997. 94 (19) 10367-10372.
5. Darbinyan, V., Kteyan, A., Panossian, A., et al. “Rhodiola rosea in stress induced fatigue—a double blind cross-over study of a standardized extract SHR-5 with a repeated low-dose regimen on the mental performance of healthy physicians during night duty.” Phytomedicine. 2000 Oct;7(5):365-71.
6. Blackburn EH, Epel ES. Comment: Too toxic to ignore. Nature. 2012;490:169-17
7. Coimbra, Bruno Messina et al. Stress-related telomere length in children: A systematic review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, Volume 92, 47 – 54.
8. J. Thilagavathi, et al. Analysis of sperm telomere length in men with idiopathic infertility. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. April 2013, Volume 287, Issue 4, pp 803–807.
9. Keefe, David, et al. Telomere length predicts embryo fragmentation after in vitro fertilization in women—Toward a telomere theory of reproductive aging in women. American journal of obstretrics and gynecology. April 2005. Volume 192, Issue 4, Pages 1256–1260.
10. Qun Xu, Christine G Parks, Lisa A DeRoo, Richard M Cawthon, Dale P Sandler, Honglei Chen. Multivitamin use and telomere length in women. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 89, Issue 6, 1 June 2009, Pages 1857–1863, https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2008.26986
11. Carlson LE, Beattie TL, Giese-davis J, et al. Mindfulness-based cancer recovery and supportive-expressive therapy maintain telomere length relative to controls in distressed breast cancer survivors. Cancer. 2015;121(3):476-84.
12. Bonora M, Wieckowsk MR, Chinopoulos C, et al. Molecular mechanisms of cell death: central implication of ATP synthase in mitochondrial permeability transition. Oncogene. 2015;34(12):1608.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure disease.