How to Optimize your Health through Telomerase Activation

What are telomeres?

• Telomeres are the ends each of our chromosomes that act as buffers protecting the DNA material from becoming damaged. Our chromosomes are long sequences of DNA that contain all of our genetic material. Chromosomes form a structure called a double helix; each pair of chromosomes consists of one pair from your mother and one pair from your father.
• The telomeres main function is to protect the rest of the chromosome from getting shorter during normal cell division. As we age, telomeres often shorten due to many factors: including stress in our lives, chronic diseases and infections. Telomeres naturally become progressively shorter each time our cells divide. When the telomeres become too short, the cells can no longer divide which can result in senescence of that cell.
• Recent studies have shown that patients over 60, who have longer telomeres, are healthier from a heart and Immune related diseases compared to their counterparts with shorter telomeres.
• Professor Hayflick in 1961 described the phenomenon of cellular aging. He discovered that cells cannot divide beyond a specific number of times. Every time a cell divides the length of the telomeres shorten slightly, over time, after a specific number of cell division cycles, the telomeres are steadily getting shorter as they reach this critical limit known as the Hayflick limit. Dr. Hayflick understood that cells reaching this limit became old but was unsure of what caused it.
• In 1990 professors Calvin Harley from Canada and Carol Greider from the United States discovered that telomere shortening goes hand-in-hand with the aging process and is the direct cause of cells reaching the Hayflick limit.

It is well understood now that maintaining telomere length helps to prevent age-related diseases.

What is telomerase?

• Telomerase is an enzyme in our bodies that helps us maintain the protective telomeres located at the ends of all chromosomes. Telomerase is the key to healthy cell division.
• Recent studies have shown that increasing telomerase activity in our cells can increase the telomeres length, improve the function and promote the lifespan of our cells.
• Telomerase deficiency has been linked to diabetes and impaired insulin secretion in mice.
• Inflammation in our body can decrease our telomerase activity. Oxidative stress and inflammation that are commonly seen in heart disease, obesity, and type two diabetes are associated with shorter telomeres.
• Anything that causes an increased stress in our bodies, by activating the cortisol or adrenalin systems like poor sleep duration, can be associated with shorter telomere length. In addition anything that causes chronic inflammation can also adversely affect telomerase activity like obesity.
• Obesity has been associated with low-grade inflammation in white adipose tissue resulting from the chronic activation of the immune system this leads to insulin resistance impaired Glucose tolerance and type two diabetes.

How do you know if your telomerase enzyme is working well?

• A simple blood test can check your telomerase levels. Several companies offer the blood test unfortunately it is not covered by most insurance.

What can increase telomerase activity?

• Diet and lifestyle can improve telomerase activity. A publication in 2008 by Dr. Dean Ornish suggested that men with prostate cancer who undertook changes in diet and lifestyle with in three months showed improvements of the telomerase activity.
• The standard American diet characterized by higher intakes of red and processed meats, sweets (desserts), refined grains and a higher ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats in a 20- 1 ratio has been shown to be highly pro-inflammatory to our bodies.
• In contrast, a low inflammatory diet characterized by lean proteins, vegetables, fruits with an Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio of 4-1 has been shown to have lower markers of inflammation and thus reduced oxidative stress on our bodies and the telomerase enzymes.

Reduce your stress

• Chronic psychological stress has been associated with shorter telomeres and lower telomerase activity.
• Overexposure to stress-related hormones like the catecholamine’s (epinephrine and norepinephrine) and the adrenal hormone cortisol can increases the oxidative damage to cells compromising telomerase repair systems.
• Did you know that stress reduction through meditation can help improve your telomerase activity. A study in 2010 found that there was a significantly greater telomerase activity in participants than controls after a three-month meditation retreat.
• Hormonal therapy with androgens has been found to increase telomerase activity. In a study in 2000, patients receiving androgen for bone marrow failure stimulated their bone marrow to produce more blood cells by turning on the TERT gene (telomerase reverse transcriptase). The TERT is the catalytic subunit to the enzyme telomerase responsible for repairing our chromosomes telomeres.
• In addition, bio identical hormone replacement may activate the telomerase enzyme. A 2002 study showed that 17-Beta estradiol in particularly activated the telomerase enzyme. The main mechanism for control and activation of the telomerase enzyme is the mammalian TERT gene. In addition, a Japanese study in 2010, 17- Beta estradiol helped telomerase activity and reduce the effects of aging.
• Regular moderate exercise has been shown to improve your antioxidant defenses by helping to maintain telomere length, a Yale study revealed.

Protection of telomeres by antioxidants

• The antioxidants in our bodies protect us from free radicals. Telomeres seem to be particularly sensitive to free radical damage. The more antioxidants to combat those unwanted free radicals the healthy our bodies can function. Here are a few in the literature:
• Vitamin D3 has been shown to increase telomerase activity in overweight Americans. In this 2012 study, vitamin D3 was shown to improve telomere maintenance and prevent cell death and counteract obesity-induced acceleration cellular aging.
• Astragalus has been found to stimulate telomerase activity.
• Multiple studies of a natural organic compound called Astragalus found in TA-65 supplement have been shown to improve telomerase activation.
• Astragalus root can be found in China and for over 1000 years has been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine to help multiple conditions of aging.
• Like other types of cells in our body the immune cells can lose their ability to divide over time as the telomerase on our chromosomes become progressively shorter with each cell division. As a result, our disease fighting immune cells become compromised with age, leading us prone to infections and cancers.
• Clinical studies out of UCLA found that Astragalus root can prevent or slow the progression of loss of telomeres and key immune cells making them a weapon to fight viruses like HIV. Similar to astragalus, extracts of cycloastragenol can increase telomerase activity.
• Previous studies have shown that injecting the telomerase gene into the immune cells (T cells) in our body can help keep the telomeres from getting shorter and enabling them to maintain their anti-viral functioning longer.
• In 1999 Turkish researchers found a substance collected by honeybees called for propolis may affect the enzyme telomerase. Researchers found that the highest concentration of propolis 60 ng /mL significantly decreased to telomerase expression.
• The omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to improve telomere length. A study at the University of California in San Francisco in 2010 reported that patients who had higher levels of omega-3 fats in their blood had significantly less shortening of telomeres than those who had had low levels and their blood. The best sources for supplementing with omega-3 are wild salmon, cod and sardines. Try to get around 3 grams of omega-3 (DHA/EPA) every day.
• Carnosine supplements have also been shown to help slow telomere shortening and reduce aging effects. Carnosine is naturally found in free-range meats and fish. Daily supplementation the amounts of 1000 mg per day have been shown to reduce the effects of antioxidants on our telomeres.
• In a study in 2009 published in the British Journal of pharmacology, resveratrol was found to enhance telomerase activity. Resveratrol is found in the skins of grapes and blueberries. This is one of my favorite antioxidants, which is why I put it in Mitoblast 2.
• In a study from Poland in 2010 so silymarin supported telomerase activity. Silymarin, the key active compound in milk thistle, is one of the most potent liver protective substances known. Silymarin has been shown to increase glutathione production in the liver by around 30%, thus increasing the antioxidant and detoxification capabilities.
• Antioxidant vitamin like vitamin C, Vitamin E, B vitamins, and beta carotene (Vitamin A precursor) has also been shown to be protective against inflammation. Minerals like selenium and zinc also have an antioxidant effect on our bodies.

Here are the Four Strategies to Boost Telomerase Activity

• Eat a low inflammatory diet, which is low in bad fats, sodium and refined sugars. This diet should consist of colorful vegetables and some fruits and healthy fats like almonds and walnuts. In other words, follow our FRESH Diet.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity per day. Studies have shown that moderate aerobic activity improves telomerase activity and your antioxidant defenses by helping to maintain telomere length.
• Practice different types of stress management, for example: yoga, biofeedback with breathing exercises or any other ways to deal with stress in a healthy way. People who practice stress management have shown increased telomerase activity.
• Take prescription grade antioxidant supplements like: Mitoblast 2, TA-65 (Astragulus), Resveratrol, Omega -3 fish oils, and Vitamin D3. Please ask our nutritionist at our centers for the proper dosing for your specific health concerns.
• In conclusion, a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, which are known to promote inflammation and oxidative stress, will adversely affect our telomerase functionality. Fortunately things that lower inflammation and oxidative stress like low inflammatory diets, centered around low glycemic index foods whole plants, key supplements, regular moderate exercise and stress management can help restore your to telomerase activity back to when your body was younger lowering your disease potential and helping you feel younger and more vibrant.

I hope you enjoyed this article.

Call now at 904-694-0992 for more information about telomerase activation or our supplements or click here to order TA-65 or Mitoblast 2.

Anthony Capasso M.D.