Nutraceuticals

Sept. 8, 2008 -- Vitamin B12 may help protect against brain volume loss in the elderly.

That's according to researchers from the University of Oxford in England.

The scientists studied 107 people between the ages of 61 and 87 without memory or thinking problems. The average age of participants was 73, and 54% were women.

L-Carnitine reduces physical and mental fatigue, improves cognitive function in centenarians

A report published in the December, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition described the results of a study conducted by Italian researchers which found a positive effect for L-carnitine (levo-carnitine) on energy levels and cognitive function in individuals 100 years of age and older. The age-related decline in L-carnitine, which plays a role in cellular energy metabolism, could be involved in the fatigue experienced by many older individuals.

Are there any shortcuts to a long life?

Well, some people like Meredith Averill, 61, and her husband, Paul McGlothin, 60, believe they may have the answers and they're putting themselves to the test in their quest for longevity.

The couple have been practicing calorie restriction for the last 14 years. Calorie restriction is the only proven way to extend life in animals and, now, studies are getting started in humans.

Averill and McGlothin are the subjects of one such study. As calorie restrictors they eat only specific amounts of foods that are high in nutrition but low in calories -- foods like vegetables, fruits and beans.

What is a  Nutraceutical:

A Nutraceutical is any vitamin, mineral, supplement, trace element or bio-botanical plant based substance which has known healing value to people and is produced or isolated for public consumption with the highest purity – pharmaceutical grade purity. It is a very exacting process to make a true Nutraceutical which involves sending the healing substances from plants to a biotechnology company where the active ingredient of benefit to people is highly concentrated and then standardized to a milligram dose so it can be controlled properly.