Category: Brain Health / Conditions

Like many of you, I am constantly tinkering and experimenting with different modifiable lifestyle factors to try to optimize my quality of life – I am truly a biohacker.

As you would know, there is a big difference between Chronological Age and Biological Age.  We have all worked with patients and seen individuals who look a lot older – or younger than their Chronological Age.

There are a lot of factors that can influence this difference: we cannot discount genetics however as we all know epigenetic expression can be significantly influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors.

So factors that we typically help our patients with would be included, such as diet, sleep, exercise, mental attitude, exposure to environmental toxins etc. can influence Biological Age.

When I am working with clients, I use a technology device which I have referred to previously – the iHeart technology which functions as a pulse oximeter but as well it measures AoPWV- Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity which is a measurement of aortic flexibility.

This biomarker is increasingly being used by progressive cardiologists and other health care practitioners as an indication of CV health and the potential for future events including sudden death, strokes and heart attacks. 

This is considered a more accurate predictor of these events vs. lipid panels due to the fact that approximately 40% of individuals who have one of these events have normal lipid panels.

But what I really love about the iHeart is that it has an algorithm which compares Chronological Age vs. Biological Age.

I use this technology with all my clients and I find it works well to convey the concept of Healthspan and to optimize compliance.

I use this device regularly on myself and I get good results: I am 66 years old and my Biological Age result is typically around 25 years of age.

I take a lot of supplements and I have been doing some experimentation recently whereby I would check my Biological Age before and after taking my supplements to see if they were having any impact on my Biological Age results.

And sure enough, recent experimentation has shown that prior to taking my supplements my Biological Age reading was around 40 years – and then an hour or two after taking my supplements it was down to around 25 years of age.

And then I wanted to see if I could determine which of my supplements was having the most significant effect.

Sure enough the most significant impact came from just two supplements which would decrease my Biological Age by approximately 15 years and these two supplements turned out to be our two key Integra Nutrition formulations: Pricera, our very popular NAD+ precursor formulation as well as our GenZogenol formulation.

I won’t go into detail on these two formulations in this article: if you want more details on them, have a look at our Integra Nutrition website.

GenZogenol: this formulation includes a key ingredient – Enzogenol which has been shown in a rat study to LENGTHEN telomeres by 40% and in a mouse study to to lengthen healthspan and lifespan by the equivalent of approximately 15 years in humans.

Pricera: is an NAD+ precursor formulation and according to the published literature the best on the market.***

NAD+ levels decrease by 50% by the age of 50 and they are down by 90-96% by the age of 80.

One key factor about NAD+ is it is necessary to activate the Sirtuin longevity genes so if these are not being activated, it accelerates vascular aging which has an impact on virtually every cell in the body.

Optimizing NAD+ levels can have a significant impact on energy levels due to its impact on mitochondrial function: many users feel a surge in energy levels even within 24-72 hours.

These two formulations can have a dramatic positive impact on your personal aging process and healthsplan.

In addition, they can have a significant positive impact on pretty much all chronic, degenerative conditions.

If you would like to get some additional documentation of these two formulations – including some of the published research, reach out to me.

Pricera Testimonials

Liking Pricera 🙂

Definitely boosting energy and focus.
It’s been ages since I got out in the evening for a bike ride just because I was so knackered.

This changed within 2 days of starting the Pricera.
Also more mental clarity.

Chris Spooner, ND
Vernon, BC

For a number of years I have been dealing with low energy and stamina, Chronic Fatigue and hand tremors.

One of the key areas where Pricera impacts me is my energy levels – in the past, I often could only work for 4-5 hours before I felt exhausted and would have to stop.

Some days it felt like my energy levels were so depleted that it was a struggle to get out of bed.

Since starting on the Pricera, I have experienced a tremendous boost to my energy levels and I can now work 8-10 hours at a stretch.

I have gained more stamina, energy and clarity and I have seen a significant improvement in my exercise capacity.

For myself, Pricera has been a life saver, and I will not miss a single day taking it!

MG Vancouver, BC

I wanted to share with you today an article from Quanta magazine which focuses on “Why Sleep Deprivation Kills”.

We all know about the importance of sleep as an integral component of overall health.

We have all experienced the negative effects of a lack of sleep on our health and cognitive function.

Despite decades of research, sleep is still a poorly understood process and why a lack of sleep can cause such significant negative health effects.

Now it appears that part of the answer to this question may have finally been resolved.

As it suggests in the article, many of us would assume that the origin of these types of issues would be focused in the brain however it turns out that this may not in fact be the case, but rather due to the generation of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) in the gut.

It is a bit of a long article so here are the abstract as well as study highlights.

If you want to read the whole article you can click on the link above.

Feeling dead tired? Scientists may finally be on the verge of learning why too little sleep is inevitably fatal.
  Article| Volume 181, ISSUE 6, P1307-1328.e15, June 11, 2020

Sleep Loss Can Cause Death through Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species
in the Gut

Published:June 04, 2020DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.049

Highlights

  • Sleep deprivation leads to ROS accumulation in the fly and mouse gut
  • Gut-accumulated ROS trigger oxidative stress in this organ
  • Preventing ROS accumulation in the gut allows survival without sleep in flies

Summary

The view that sleep is essential for survival is supported by the ubiquity of this behavior, the apparent existence of sleep-like states in the earliest animals, and the fact that severe sleep loss can be lethal. The cause of this lethality is unknown.

Here we show, using flies and mice, that sleep deprivation leads to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequent oxidative stress, specifically in the gut. ROS are not just correlates of sleep deprivation but drivers of death: their neutralization prevents oxidative stress and allows flies to have a normal lifespan with little to no sleep.

The rescue can be achieved with oral antioxidant compounds or with gut-targeted transgenic expression of antioxidant enzymes. We conclude that death upon severe sleep restriction can be caused by oxidative stress, that the gut is central in this process, and that survival without sleep is possible when ROS accumulation is prevented.

Pricera is now available!

PRICERA NAD+ Presursor:

KEY APPLICATIONS

  • Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative conditions
  • Inflammation
  • Addictions
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Exercise performance and recovery
  • Immune system activation
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Diabesity Spectrum
  • Hypertension
  • Elevated cholesterol levels
  • Depression
  • Oxidative stress

Compromised mitochondrial function and the resultant deficit in ATP production is rampant in modern society.

Sub-optimal levels of these conditions are also rampant – often in individuals who would appear to be in a state of good to excellent health.

There are of course many reasons for this state of affairs: age related decline is a given but other stressors such as environmental toxins (including not only chemicals and heavy metals but also factors such as EMF radiation, exposure to blue light, disrupted circadian rhythms, diet, lack of exercise etc.), stress, hormonal dysregulation, and many more.

I would suggest that there is another cause to this challenge: deteriorating age related NAD+ levels.

This latter consideration of sub-optimal mitochondrial function has been something we were not expecting as we have started to get feedback from many practitioners who have been personally consuming our Pricera NAD+ precursor formulation.

Many of these individuals are in apparent good to excellent states of health however within 24-72 hours of starting on Pricera they felt a surge of energy (Pricera’s impact on mitochondrial function), they felt an urge to engage in strenuous exercise, they did so, recovered quickly and felt motivated to engage in exercise again.

An article from the Alive by Nature website discusses a recently published study in Cell Reports in which Jing and co-authors utilized a library of 2,400 drugs to screen for drugs that could restore ATP levels. They successfully identified 15 drugs, influencing a variety of metabolic processes, which significantly increased ATP levels.

Of these, the strongest impact on the production of ATP was NAD+.

The researchers demonstrated that NAD+ activates a transcription cascade that results in

increased expression of mitochondrial proteins involved in ATP production.

I have included the highlights and abstract from Jing’s study at the end of this article.

Jing’s study contributes to a growing body of published research confirming the fact that optimal NAD+ levels are critical for mitochondrial function.

Read More

As you know, Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological condition with unknown etiology and with no known cure, although exposure to environmental toxins is a suspected contributing factor or alternatively an outright cause.

Elevating NAD+ tissue levels, such as with our Pricera formulation have been shown as indicated in the following study to provide potential tremendous benefit to those dealing with Parkinson’s.

From the website NADH.com:

In an open label trial with 885 Parkinsion’s disease patients  the following results were achieved by optimizing NAD+ level in study conducted in Austria by J.G.D. Birkmeyer, MD and colleagues:

As one would expect, the earlier in the progression of the patient’s Parkinson’s the better the chance of a successful outcome.

The clinical trial showed 78% of the patients taking NADH experienced varying levels of beneficial improvement. The percentages in improvement were:

  • 19.3% of the patients showed a very good (30% to 50%) improvement
  • 58.8% of the patients showed a moderate (10 – 30 %) improvement.
  • 21.8 % of the patients did not respond to the NADH

Parkinson’s Disease and NADH Treatments
Summary: Good news, 78% of the patients in a Parkinson’s disease clinical study experienced positive improvements when taking an NADH supplement. NADH is a nutritional supplement that is a natural, energy-giving, co-enzyme found within every human cell.

Since the mid-eighties, NADH has been used in Europe to successfully treat more than 3,000 Parkinsons patients. To validate these treatments, an open label clinical trial study was held with 885 Parkinson’s disease patients taking a daily 25mg NADH supplement (for the actual study, see the link below). The clinical study findings validated that in 78% of the cases, patients taking NADH reported positive improvements in their condition.  

The Clinical Testing:

These treatments were in Europe, and not in the US. A majority of the Parkinson’s disease patients experienced varying levels of positive improvements in their condition. To validate these results, an open label trial with 885 Parkinsion’s disease patients were given 25mg of NADH daily. About half of the patients received NADH by intravenous means and the other half received oral tablets. The patients that received the 25mg of NADH oral tablets experienced the best results. (The actual Parkinson’s disease clinical study is available, see the link below.) 

The study found there were three things that had significant influence on the improvement in condition. They are:

  • the degree of the patient’s disability before the treatment
  • the duration of the disease within the patient before the treatment
  • the age of the patient

In the simplest of terms, the younger patients, with a shorter duration of the disease have a better chance to obtain the most significant improvements in Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The stages of the disease are important. If the Parkinson’s disease is in the most advanced stages, it is very difficult to show improvement.

The clinical tests showed 78% of the patients taking NADH experienced varying levels of beneficial improvement. The percentages in improvement were:

  • 19.3% of the patients showed a very good (30% to 50%) improvement
  • 58.8% of the patients showed a moderate (10 – 30 %) improvement.
  • 21.8 % of the patients did not respond to the NADH

The most important things to remember about the NADH, is that NADH is found in every human cell, and:

  • NADH increases the levels of cellular energy (ATP). The more NADH cells have — the more ATP-energy cells produce. NADH increases cell longevity.
  • NADH is a powerful antioxidant, a scavenger of free radicals. According to Dr. Passwater, “NADH may just be the most powerful antioxidant”
  • NADH is the active ingredient in cellular repair and DNA repair.  It repairs cellular damage.
  • NADH stimulates the immune system.
  • NADH enhances the production of dopamine, a very important brain chemical (also known as a neurotransmitter)
  • NADH increases the bio-availability of nitric oxide, known to provide increased blood flow, oxygen delivery, glucose uptake, muscle velocity, power output, and muscle growth

Here is a testimonial from a client of mine who has achieved some remarkable improvement from her daily consumption of Pricera.

The most significant improvement was in her energy levels.

For a number of years I have been dealing with low energy and stamina, Chronic Fatigue and hand tremors.

One of the key areas where Pricera impacts me is my energy levels – in the past, I often could only work for 4-5 hours before I felt exhausted and would have to stop.

Some days it felt like my energy levels were so depleted that it was a struggle to get out of bed.

Since starting on the Pricera, I have experienced a tremendous boost to my energy levels and I can now work 8-10 hours at a stretch.

I have gained more stamina, energy and clarity and I have seen a significant improvement in my exercise capacity.

For myself, Pricera has been a life saver, and I will not miss a single day taking it!

MG Vancouver, BC

If you are not targeting the optimization of NAD+ levels in your patients it is my opinion – based upon the published research that you are not addressing one of the key causes of the development of age related chronic, degenerative diseases.

Reach out to me if you have some questions or you would like to get in some Pricera for yourself and your patients.

Here is a link to Birkmeyer’s published paper on the benefits for Parkinson’s conditions which can be achieved by optimizing NAD+ levels.


Copyright © 2020 Robert Lamberton,
All rights reserved

Pricera our NAD+ precursor formulation is now available!


Why maintaining optimal NAD+ levels as we age is critical to our quality of life, healthspan and potentially lifespan  

I wanted to share with you today why I believe that maintaining optimal NAD+ levels is critical for healthy aging, extending healthspan – and potentially lifespan (as has been shown in animal studies).


  “In my opinion, NAD therapy will turn out to be one of the greatest advances in medical science since Fleming developed penicillin”.

Dr. Phil Milgram, MD

NAD+ levels decrease with age:

  • People aged 50 have about 40% less NAD+
  • By the age of 80 years, NAD+ levels decline between 90-98%

NAD+ and the Sirtuin Longevity Genes

Optimal NAD+ levels are critical for the activation of the Sirtuin longevity genes.

Limited Sirtuin longevity gene activity can lead to an acceleration of the aging process: one example of this is vascular aging.

Vascular aging is responsible for a constellation of disorders, such as cardiac and neurologic conditions, muscle loss, impaired wound healing and overall frailty, amongst others.

Multiple animal studies have demonstrated that increasing sirtuin activity leads to:

•Longer life
•Less age-related loss of function
•Less DNA damage

NAD+ maintains and builds sirtuin levels and activity

Exercise Performance

Another impressive benefit of optimizing NAD+ levels is in the area of exercise:

In a mouse study, the cohort which was supplemented to optimize NAD+ levels it increased their exercise capacity between 56 and 80 percent, compared with untreated mice.

David Sinclair, PhD commented about the results of this study:

“Even if you’re an athlete, you eventually decline,” Sinclair said. “But there is another category of people—what about those who are in a wheelchair or those with otherwise reduced mobility?”

In another study involving elderly men, supplementation with an NAD+ precursor resulted in improved exercise performance:

The men in this study had an 8% improvement in peak isometric muscle torque (a measure of muscle force) and a 15% improvement in fatigue associated with exercise.

Other Research Highlights:  

• Boosting NAD+ biosynthesis by using key NAD+ intermediates is now drawing significant attention for: Alzheimer’s/Type 2 Diabetes/Heart Failure/ Hearing Loss
• NAD+ precursors have been shown to increase stem cell colonies by 75% in the gut of aging mice
• Other studies point to the role of NAD+ in restoring circadian rhythms needed for restorative sleep
• SirT1 overexpression protects against Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease as well as ALS

Low NAD+ Levels Can Contribute to the Following:

•Accelerates aging
•Increases sunburn and skin cancer
•Decreases cellular antioxidants
•Decreases metabolism along with thyroid hormones
•Harms immune function
•Increases inflammation
•Impairs brain function
•Can cause hypoxia intracellularly
•Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
•May worsen weight gain and metabolic syndrome
•May worsen cardiovascular diseases
May contribute to MS (multiple sclerosis)

Why Is It Important to Increase NAD+ Levels?

General Benefits

•Low NAD+ levels can accelerate the aging process
•NAD+ is vital for mitochondrial health
•NAD+ plays a key role in cellular metabolism and energy production
•NAD+ is a rate-limiting co-substrate for sirtuins
•High NAD+ levels are essential for DNA repair and recovery
•NAD+ activates CD38, which is present on many immune cells (white blood cells) and associated with impaired immune responses.
•Enhances autophagy
•Helps maintain redox potential

Specific Conditions

•Positive impact on the Diabesity Spectrum
•Low NAD+ levels may worsen cardiovascular diseases
•Low NAD+ levels may increase inflammation


In my opinion, you cannot age well and extend healthspan without addressing and maximizing NAD+ levels, especially with older patients.

For more information about Pricera or where you can get some reach out to me.

Copyright © 2020 Robert Lamberton

All rights reserved

Health Conditions Which Can Benefit From Increased NAD+ Levels:  

•Alcoholism
•ALS
•Alzheimer’s Disease
•Anxiety
•Benzo Addiction
•Brain Injury
•Cancers
•Chronic Fatigue
•Depression
•Diabesity Spectrum
•Elevated cholesterol levels
•Fibromyalgia
•Hypertension
•IBS
•Immune system activation
•Inflammation
•Lyme’s Disease
•Malabsorption Syndrome
•Methadone Addiction
•Mitochondrial Dysfunction
•Multiple Sclerosis
•Narcotic Addiction
•Neurodegeneration
•Oxidative stress
•Parkinson’s Disease
•PTSD
•Respiratory Allergies
•Schizophrenia
•SIBO
•Skin Allergies
•Stress  

In our continuing series on compounds that can have a positive impact on prevention of viral infections as well as improving response to infections today I want to highlight Vitamin D.

Vitamin D not only acts as a vitamin but also as a prohormone and it influences hundreds of biochemical processes in human physiology.

Following is a press release from the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service which provides details on how Vitamin D could reduce the risk of influenza and COVID-19 infection and death.

Copyright © 2020 Robert Lamberton

All rights reserved

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Apr 9, 2020

Vitamin D Supplements Could Reduce Risk of Influenza and COVID-19 Infection and Death

by William B. Grant, PhD and Carole A. Baggerly

(OMNS Apr 9, 2020) There are two main reasons why respiratory tract infections such as influenza and COVID-19 occur in winter: winter sun and weather and low vitamin D status. Many viruses live longer outside the body when sunlight, temperature, and humidity levels are low as they are in winter [1].Vitamin D is an important component of the body’s immune system, and it is low in winter due to low solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) doses from exposure and the low supplement intakes of most. While nothing can be done about winter sun and weather, vitamin D status can be raised through vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D has several mechanisms that can reduce risk of infections [2]. Important mechanisms regarding respiratory tract infections include:

  • inducing production of cathelicidins and defensins that can lower viral survival and replication rates as well as reduce risk of bacterial infection
  • reducing the cytokine storm that causes inflammation and damage to the lining of the lungs that can lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Vitamin D deficiency has been found to contribute to acute respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of death associated with COVID-19 [3]. An analysis of case-fatality rates in 12 U.S. communities during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic found that communities in the sunny south and west had much lower case-fatality rates (generally from pneumonia) than those in the darker northeast [4].

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