Here's some latest headlines on supplements that can prevent, arrest and reverse some of the hazards of aging. 

Fish Oil Blocks Wrinkles:

Here's a surprising new reason to get fish oil. It may help stave off wrinkles--keeping your skin younger and smoother as you age.

In a new test-tube study, omega-3 EPA in fish oil helped suppress the type aging damage in skin that causes sagging and wrinkles. Researchers applied EPA omega-3 fatty acids to human skin cells and then subjected them to UV radiation to simulate sun exposure and damage associated with increased wrinkling as we age. Cells getting the omega-3 were more resistant to damage and thus wrinkles.(Hyeon Ho Kim, J Lipid Res 2005, 46:1712-1720) 

Vitamin E Slows Cataracts

Taking vitamin E helps keep cataracts away, says Paul Jacques, DSc, at Tufts University.

Dr. Jacques found that women who reported taking vitamin E for 10 years or more showed significantly less progression of cataracts. Higher intakes of riboflavin and thiamin also decreased cataract progression.

Eating omega-3 fatty acids in fish also helped prevent cataract formation. Vitamin C may also help delay cataracts and the need for surgery, but most promising to date is vitamin E, says Jacques. (Jacques, Archives of Ophthalmology, April, 2005 123:517-526)

Green Tea EGCG Stops Alzheimer's

Dramatic new animal research shows that EGCG, the major antioxidant in green tea, slashed formation of brain-clogging Alzheimer's plaques by 50%! 

Specifically, University of South Florida researchers found that EGCG decreased production of a protein, beta amyloid in mice which can accumulate in brain cells, leading to plaques and memory loss. Beta amyloid is suspected as a primary culprit in Alzheimer's.

Unfortunately, drinking green tea is not likely to provide enough EGCG to block beta amyloid leading to Alzheimer's, said researchers. The equivalent human dose that worked in mice is 1500 mg of EGCG daily, and available in concentrated green tea extract. (Each capsule of Stop Aging Now! high antioxidant green tea has 315 mg EGCG).

B Vitamins for Your Brain

Nothing is as apt to help your aging brain as taking B vitamins, mainly folic acid. New research from the University of California at Irvine shows that at least 400mcg of folic acid daily slashes Alzheimer's risk an astonishing 55%. A recent Dutch study found that taking 800 mcg folic acid a day slowed brain aging by 5 years.

New Tufts research finds that low folic acid predicts brain decline. Older people with low intakes and blood levels of folic acid performed worst on tests of memory and cognitive function. (Tucker, KL. Am J Clin Nutr 2005:82:627-35, Corrada, M. J of Alzheimer's Association, August, 2005) All Stop Aging Now! Multi-Nutrient Formulas contain 800 mcg folic acid)

Ginkgo for All Ages

Taking ginkgo can give your brain and memory a boost, even if you are young, middle-aged or older with no signs of memory or intellectual slow down.

That's the conclusion of a new analysis of 16 recent studies of giving ginkgo to normal healthy people, ages 18 and older. Fully 11 or 70% of the studies showed that ginkgo boosted mental functioning at all ages, including memory, attention and speed of information processing.

That means that virtually all adults may benefit from taking ginkgo, said Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council that published the article in its September HerbalGram. The effective dose: 120 mg daily, said Blumenthal.

The long-awaited results of a landmark five-year $14 million dollar National Institutes of Health test of glucosamine and chondroitin in alleviating osteoarthritis are now in. And the news is exciting, proving what millions have experienced--that these two natural substances, when put to the ultimate scientific test, relieved severe to moderate joint pain--even better than the drug Celebrex!.

According to a preliminary report, a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin was a better killer of moderate to severe osteoarthritic knee pain than either glucosamine or chondroitin alone or a placebo or the drug Celebrex--commonly prescribed to relieve arthritis symptoms.  Overall, glucosamine and chondroitin brought pain relief to about 80 percent of those with a ten-year history of osteoarthritis and severe to moderate pain. 

Specifically, the study showed that glucosamine and chondroitin together was about 20% more effective in relieving pain than glucosamine alone, about 30% more effective than chondroitin alone, 14% more effective than Celebrex, and nearly 50% more effective than placebo.  

The effective dose in the double-blind controlled study was 1500 milligrams of glucosamine hydrochloride and 1200 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate a day.* 

The study, known as the Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), included 1258 individuals at a dozen healthcare facilities around the country. It compared the efficacy and safety of glucosamine alone, chondroitin alone, a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin, the drug Celebrex and a placebo. 

What the study means

The study shows that glucosamine and chondroitin each fight osteoarthritis joint pain better than a sugar pill, which is the gold-standard accepted by the medical profession. 

Most important, the new study proves that there is a synergistic action between glucosamine and chondroitin, affording more pain control that each alone. That's major, and should end the debate over whether glucosamine alone works just as well without chondroitin. Clearly, the addition of chondroitin elevates pain control to a much higher level.  

No Serious Side Effects

Many rumors have persisted about the adverse effects of taking glucosamine and chondroitin. But they are largely exaggerated and/or nonexistent.  NIH researchers noted only mild adverse effects from glucosamine, chondroitin or any of the treatments in the study.

Some earlier reports suggested that glucosamine raises  blood sugar and cholesterol levels, but this is untrue, according to recent research. A new Belgian study found no rise in cholesterol in over 100 patients who took 1500 mg glucosamine for 3 years.

Dr. James Anderson, diabetes expert at the University of Kentucky , after reviewing the research on more than 3,000 patients, concluded that glucosamine does not raise blood sugar. In fact, he said, it is more apt to lower blood glucose.

The full NIH study is scheduled for presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in San Diego in November. 

*The Stop Aging Now! Osteo GC has the same type and doses of glucosamine and chondroitin found effective in the new NIH study.  

The Winner Against Joint Pain: Glucosamine-Chondroitin Combination

• 20% better than glucosamine alone
• 30% better than chondroitin alone
• 50% better than placebo 
• 14% better than Celebrex 
• Source: NIH GAIT study abstract

Q: I'm totally confused about the danger of mercury in fish, especially salmon. What's your opinion?--From Melody.

A: Some fish is contaminated with high levels of toxic mercury that can harm your heart and brain and damage developing fetal brains, resulting in babies with lower IQs. Such fish to avoid or restrict are: swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish (also called golden bass and golden snapper). Also restrict canned albacore tuna, which is much higher in mercury than light canned tuna. 

As for salmon it's super high in beneficial omega-3 fats, and neither wild nor farmed salmon have significant levels of mercury. Harvard's Walter Willett, professor of nutrition, says he does not hesitate to eat both farmed and wild salmon. High omega-3 sardines and herring are also safe. Shellfish, cod, and many other smaller fish are mercury-free, but contain very little omega-3.

Another way to get the benefits of omega-3s without the hazard of mercury and other environmental contaminants is to take fish oil capsules. Many experts now recommend fish oil supplements as safer than depending entirely on fish for your omega-3 oil. 

Q: Why is taking iron now considered not good for the elderly? My father used to take a daily dose of 325 mg of iron.--From Robin.

A: Scientific knowledge about the dangers of iron has progressed in recent years. Researchers now believe too much iron stored in cells is detrimental, especially as you get older. Excess iron accelerates aging, and people with high levels of iron are more vulnerable to heart disease and especially Parkinson's disease, research shows. Onset of Parkinson's is earlier and progresses more rapidly in people who consume and store lots of iron, studies show.

Bottomline: Men after age 18 and women after menopause should not take iron supplements, unless prescribed by a doctor for a specific reason, such as anemia. If you're a younger woman, it's ok, but not mandatory, to take an iron supplement.  

Q: What's  your take on Splenda? Is it safe?--From Charles   

A: Splenda is an artificial sweetener, and there are accusations on the internet that it's dangerous. The unfounded claim is that Splenda contains high amounts of chlorine, making it chemically like a chlorinated hydrocarbon--or pesticide. But the references given by critics to back this up are nonsense. I can't find a smidgen of evidence in the legitimate medical literature of any harm from Splenda. Nor can the sugar industry, which merely takes issue with Splenda's claims that it is a "natural" instead of an artifical sweetener. 

No consumer groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, disputes the safety of Splenda. Until something more reliable than unsubtantiated rantings on the internet finds Splenda unsafe, it should be considered a very safe sugar substitute.   

Q: Why does sourdough bread gets high ratings as a good food? Isn't sourdough made with white flour, instead of whole grains?--From Jannelle. 

A: Yes, sourdough is usually made from white flour but a big plus is sourdough does not spike blood sugar to the extent ordinary white bread does. The glycemic index of white bread (measure of ability to raise blood sugar) is about 40% higher than that of sourdough. That's because sourdough is fermented and such fermentation stifles blood sugar rises.

Whole grain bread has a slightly lower glycemic index than white bread. Probably worst are bagels that send blood sugar soaring. I have never understood why some people consider bagels a health food.  

Q: I take tart cherry juice to help my gout. I feel better, but my wife says it's nonsense. What do you say?--From Richard.

A: Eating cherries to cure gout is an old folk remedy. And there is surprising scientific evidence it works. Researchers at the USDA at the University of California at Davis have found that after women ate bing cherries every morning, their uric acid levels dropped about 15%. High uric acid is known to help bring on painful gout attacks.

Thus, the researchers concluded that  cherries, including cherry juice, are antiinflamamtory. So it makes  scientific sense that cherry juice is helping your gout. By the way, the women in the study ate 45 fresh bing cherries for breakfast. Concentrated cherry supplements may also work.   

Q: What do you think of all the Hoodia talk these days? Is it safe? effective?--From Sarah. 

A: If you haven't seen all the internet fuss about hoodia, it is touted as "the best and safest weight loss pill in history." It comes from a plant in South Africa. And it got a big boost when 60 Minutes and Leslie Stahl did a TV segment on it. After eating a piece of the hoodia plant, Stahl said she wasn't hungry all day--and she had no desire to eat or drink the entire day. In her words "it worked." 

Now, Leslie Stahl is an excellent journalist, but does anybody in the world think she needs to lose weight, or that she eats very much on any day? Reports are that Pfizer is looking to put the active ingredient of hoodia into a weight-loss drug. In the meantime, I wouldn't put much faith in the hoodia pills. Also, the Food and Drug Administration says their safety has not been shown.

Q: What type diet should a person should eat who has had kidney stones?--From Sue.

A: A new study suggests that green tea helps reduce formation of calcium-like kidney stones. So that's worth a try, and green tea is good for you in all kinds of other ways. Also, being overweight can almost double a woman's risk of kidney stones, says new Harvard research. It also found that getting enough magnesium can cut the risk of kidney stones about 30%. Additionally, eating lots of potassium in fruits and vegetables discourages kidney stone formation.

You may have heard that too much calcium promotes kidney stones. But recent research finds that calcium supplements had either no effect or actually reduced the risk of kidney stones.   Other advice: Be sure to drink lots of fluids, especially water. That helps wash out minerals that help form stones.

Q: Is flaxseed oil really as good for you as I have read? I've read all kinds of wild claims about it.--From Kay

A: I am not a fan of flaxseed oil. I like ground flaxseed, which has anticancer properties, but flaxseed oil is often touted as a vegetarian substitute for fish oil. It's really not the same at all. Flaxseed oil has only one-tenth the potency of omega-3s found in fish oil. So you have to eat ten times as much flaxseed oil as fish oil to get the same benefits. I suppose if you're a vegetarian, the flaxseed oil is worth it but if you can eat fish and take fish oil, it is a much better choice.  

Q: Grape seed extract is supposed to be good for you. Therefore, if you eat grapes is it best to eat the skin, seeds, etc? --From Wayne.

A: Grapes are packed with antioxidants, and most are in the skin and seeds. So, yes, getting every bit of a grape--skin and seeds--is best. Raisins, or dried grapes, are also rich in antioxidants, but also in calories. Grape juice, especially red and purple, is also antioxidant-rich. In tests at Tufts, purple concord grape juice helped slow brain aging in lab animals.             Concentrated grape extract in supplements is also potent. In new studies, grape seed extact helped prevent brain deterioration in lab animals, and lowered triglycerides, bad LD cholesterol and inflammation in women. So all forms of grapes--whole, dried, as juice, wine, especially red wine, and supplemental extracts can all be beneficial.

Q: Is buttermilk as good for you as yogurt? I remember a doctor saying buttermilk was good to drink.--From Robbie. 

A: In my view, yogurt has a big edge over buttermilk, because yogurt is fermented and thus, contains strains of good bacteria. Because yogurt is unique, numerous studies show it may help keep colon polyps away, lessen risk of stomach cancer, help relieve diarrhea, constipation and inflammatory bowel disease. Research shows it may help prevent allergies and common colds and even fight bad breath. Buttermilk is ok, but it doesn't have the same properties as yogurt. If you drink buttermilk, be sure it is no-fat or low fat.

Q: My husband is on the blood thinner coumadin. Can he take green tea capsules without their affecting his blood thickness?--From Marie 

A: Green tea can inhibit formation of blood clots but it doesn't seem to do this by altering coagulation factors, like coumadin does. Generally green tea chemicals should not interfere with coumadin's activity as a blood thinner. But even if it did, your husband's doctor could simply adjust the amount of coumadin he's taking. I assume your husband has his blood coagulation factors checked regularly. So if green tea did overly thin his blood, it can be offset by reducing the dose of coumadin.

That's also why experts now say you don't have to give up green leafy vegtables, like broccoli, if you take coumadin. You simply take a lower dose. It's a better solution than giving up beneficial foods that may interact with coumadin. 

Q: My doctor told me to increase my calcium intake at the onset of menopause.  How much should I take? From Annette.

A: This issue is one that so many people get wrong, and end up taking far more calcium than they need. Generally, experts say you should get 1200 to 1500 mg of calcium a day--but that includes about 500-600 mg that virtually everybody gets in food. So you only need a calcium supplement of 600 to 1000 mg a day as you get older to make up the difference, say experts, such as Tufts researcher Katherine Tucker. There's no evidence that more than that will keep bones strong or prevent osteoporosis or fractures.

And too much calcium can be hazardous and may even promote irregular heart beats by upsetting the balance of ions in heart cells. The bottom line: You don't need high doses of 1200 to 1500mg calcium a day in supplements to save your aging bones. Studies say 600-1000 mg is enough.     

Q: I would like to have a list of foods that affect inflammation in the body.--From Sara 

A: Much new research ties inflammation to chronic disease, including heart disease, arthritis, asthma, cancer, strokes and even Alzheimer's. In fact, inflammation of your arteries is now considered a major cause of clogged arteries and heart attacks. So anything you can do to lower inflammation is a good idea.   The number one antinflammatory food is omega-3 type fish oil, as in salmon and sardines. On the other hand, corn oil is a prime villain in promoting inflammation. Meat also revs up inflammation. Several studies show that people with rheumatoid arthritis who restrict meat, eat more fish or go on vegetarian diets have less pain and swelling and stiffness in their joints. So fatty fish and all kinds of fruits and vegetable yes--they fight inflammation. Meat, corn oil and trans fats make it worse.    

Q: I have never found anything to help restless legs? do you have any ideas?--From Jane.

A: Restless legs syndrome is an involuntary movement of the legs that interrupts sleep. There's not a lot of nutritional advice on the books for this. Doctors at Johns Hopkins say that cutting down on caffeine may help. Aside from that--one study showed that taking magnesium supplements at night helped reduce the symptoms and helped people sleep better. There's also a theory that folic acid deficiency might promote restless legs. In any event, you might make sure  you get a daily dose of 300-400 mg of magnesium a day and 800 mcg of folic acid. If it doesn't help your restless legs, it will surely help your heart--and your brain. Most people don't get enough magnesium and folic acid.     

Q: Which breakfast cereals do you eat and recommend?--From Steve

A: I grew up on oatmeal and it's still my favorite. It's whole grain, and has infection-fighting properties and may lower cholesterol. Also, the regular type oats you have to cook, not the instant oats, has a low glycemic index--doesn't spike blood sugar.