“We’ve got 40 years’ worth of data with people on [protein supplementation] now. And we’re not seeing some sort of rife wave of people who used it getting various forms of cancer, etc., which you would expect. Forty years is enough to see the effect.” - Stuart Phillips, Ph.D. on high protein supplementation High protein intake is often believed to be harmful to kidney function, but robust evidence indicates that this concern is unfounded. A 2000 study demonstrated that athletes with high protein consumption do not have an increased risk for kidney dysfunction. Researchers asked bodybuilders a... muscle protein
Read moreFrom the article: > In the current study, the scientists trained mice to run on a treadmill for one hour per day, five days per week, for two weeks. After the animals were exposed to toxic bright light -- a commonly used model of retinal degeneration -- they exercised for two more weeks. The exercised animals lost only half the number of photoreceptor cells as animals that spent the equivalent amount of time on a stationary treadmill. > Additionally, the retinal cells of exercised mice were more responsive to light and had higher levels of a growth- and health-promoting protein called br... aging eyes aerobic bdnf
Read more[toc position='left'] Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that is critical in storing and releasing cellular energy. It also participates in many biological processes driving pregnancy outcomes, maintaining bone mineral density and muscle mass in older adults, improving neurological function, and aiding the immune system to fight cancer. Creatine is best known for its widespread use as a dietary supplement to enhance physical performance. Creatine uptake, synthesis, storage, and supplementation Creatine uptake Creatine can be supplied exogenously (from dietary or supplemental sources) ... metabolism neurodegeneration nutrition brain aging depression pregnancy
Read morePeople that were exposed to 100 lux of light during sleep for one night had higher markers of insulin resistance (such as higher insulin levels) compared to individuals that were not exposed to light during sleep. The light exposure likely disrupts sleep and leads to poor sleep. Other clinical trials have shown that poor sleep (4 hours a night for 2 nights) can result in 20% higher circulating insulin levels. 100 lux is similar to a dim family room light and is quite a bit of light to be exposed to during sleep hours. 5 lux is similar to a street light from outside lighting up a room at night ... sleep insulin
Read moreCould choices you make before having kids affect their DNA? Animal study suggests exercise causes changes in sperm DNA and results in offspring that have stronger neuronal connections in the hippocampus, and better learning and memory than those born to sedentary fathers. There was an interesting study published last year showing that obesity causes epigenetic changes and decreases activation of genes involved in learning and memory in humans. Obese men had sperm DNA that is different from sperm DNA in lean men in 300 genes and many are in the brain affecting learning/memory. Bariatric surgery... exercise brain epigenetics development neurons
Read moreLack of sleep may increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Sleep deprivation for one night boosted levels of amyloid beta (a biomarker linked to Alzheimer's) disease by 25-30% in healthy participants. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the important role sleep plays in brain health. Many other observational studies have shown an association between poor sleep and an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. There have been a couple small clinical trials (such as this one) that have shown lack of sleep increases amyloid beta protein levels. Several animal studies and a few human ... brain alzheimer's aging sleep protein
Read moreA small trial including 20 people were given either sourdough whole-grain bread or refined white bread to eat for one week. After a two-week break, each participant switched bread types for another week. The study found very surprising results. Consuming either bread type improved cholesterol levels and improved markers of inflammation. The glycemic response was also dependent on the person's gut microbiome composition and not bread type. This was surprising considering that fiber slows digestion and normally lowers the glycemic response. The bacterial strains that affected the glycemic respon... nutrition microbiome inflammation sugar
Read moreThe "exome" is the region of the DNA that specifically encodes protein. FTA: > Unlike earlier diagnostics that study one gene at a time, this test rapidly sifts through all of the 37-million base pairs in a person's 20,000 genes to tease out the single DNA change causing a rare genetic disorder. It focuses on the exome, the protein-coding portions of genes that account for only 1 percent of DNA but nearly 85 percent of the glitches known to cause human diseases. Also relevant... the price. FTA: > With preauthorization, many insurance providers cover the cost to sequence a child and both ... drug genetics protein
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