Nanoplastics are emerging as a new concern in environmental and human health due to their capacity to interact with biological systems at the cellular level. Their small size allows them to penetrate tissues and potentially disrupt key physiological processes, particularly in the gut. A recent study in mice found that polystyrene nanoplastics can disrupt gut bacteria, weaken the intestinal barrier, and trigger molecular changes that may have far-reaching effects on health. Researchers exposed mice to oral doses of polystyrene nanoplastics four times a week for 12 weeks and used fluorescent lab... gut pollution Microplastics
Read moreTelomeres serve as protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, and when they shrink too much, cells stop dividing and age. Shorter telomeres have been linked to an increased risk for age-related diseases and premature death. A recent study found that daily vitamin D3 supplementation slowed telomere shortening by about 25% over four years in older adults. Researchers recruited 1,031 participants from the large VITAL (https://www.vitalstudy.org) trial who took vitamin D3 (2,000 IU daily), omega-3 fatty acids (1 gram daily), both, or a placebo for four years. The researchers measured each person'... vitamin d telomeres supplements aging
Read moreDr. Andy Galpin & Dr. Rhonda Patrick discuss nutrition, supplement, and recovery strategies for improving exercise performance. ... exercise supplements nutrition sleep performance omega-3 vitamin e heat stress cold stress iron protein
Watch nowTime-restricted eating influences the activation of roughly 70 percent of all genes in mice, a new study shows. Mice that ate on a time-restricted schedule had fewer active genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress and more active genes involved in metabolism and autophagy – a cellular defense mechanism (https://www.foundmyfitness.com/topics/autophagy). Researchers fed two groups of mice a Western-style diet, which is high in fat and sugars, for seven weeks. One group was allowed to eat whenever they chose to, but the other group was allowed to eat only during a nine-hour window ea... metabolism genetics autophagy time-restricted eating
Read morePeople with chronic fatigue disorders who took coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements experienced less fatigue, a recent review and meta-analysis has found. The greatest reduction in fatigue was found with supplements that contained CoQ10 alone, rather than those that contained a mixture of other dietary supplements. Researchers analyzed the findings of 13 studies involving more than 1,100 people who had conditions that commonly cause fatigue, such as heart failure, autoimmune disorders, and cancer. The study participants took supplements containing between 60 and 500 milligrams of CoQ10 daily for f... nutrition cancer micronutrients mitochondria supplements Ubiquinol
Read moreDr. Patrick's keynote: compromised intestinal barrier affects human health—cardiometabolic function, neurological health, behavior, and more. ... intestinal permeability alzheimer's gut heart disease inflammation depression blood-brain barrier lipopolysaccharide
Watch nowTau is a protein found in the brain. It plays critical roles in nerve axon stability and the transport of mitochondria, lipids, and cellular metabolites in the brain. New evidence suggests that high dietary salt intake increases the formation of tau tangles. Tau tangles are abnormal aggregates of tau protein that form when tau undergoes hyperphosphorylation. The formation of tau tangles is an early event in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The authors of the study fed mice either a normal diet or a high salt diet ...
Read moreCOVID-19 Q&A Series Part 1: Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D. addresses subscriber questions in this multi-part series. ... covid-19 vitamin d vitamin c virus melatonin sauna autoimmunity
Watch nowAging is the primary risk factor for many chronic diseases in humans, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and cardiovascular disease. Individuals age at different rates, however, a phenomenon observed across sexes, ethnic groups, and races. A recent study has identified a group of proteins in human plasma that predicts both chronological and biological age. Proteins regulate key cellular pathways. The overall composition of proteins in the body changes with time, reflecting the effects of aging. Blood is the primary vehicle for most of the body's proteins, and some studies have shown that ... aging protein
Read moreSupercentenarians – people who live to be 110 years of age or older – have long healthspans, free of disease and the physical and cognitive decline that commonly accompany aging. A critical factor in their long, healthy lives is a robust immune system. Findings from a new study reveal that supercentenarians have high levels of cytotoxic CD4 T-cells, a specialized type of white blood cell. CD4 T-cells are key elements in the body's antigen-specific immune response. They destroy virus-infected and malignant cells by triggering apoptosis – a type of cellular self-destruct mechanism that rids the... cancer aging immune system
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