Another positive case for antioxidants
The world is chockfull of mysteries. One of the greatest medical mysteries that persists to this day is what actually causes Alzheimer's disease.
One central theory has been that those struck with Alzheimer's had a defect in their cytochrome C oxidase gene—COX gene for short. The COX gene is used in mitochondrial energy production. When energy is created there, free radicals are a by- product. Those free radicals cause damaging oxidative stress, and are suspected of helping to create the beta amyloid plaque that characterizes the disease.
So if you have a problem with the COX gene, the amount of free radicals created is increased.
Researchers evaluated this theory by removing the COX gene in mice that had been engineered to get Alzheimer's. If the theory was correct, there should be more of the telltale amyloid plaque.
Surprisingly, it was just the opposite. The mice had fewer brain plaques and less free radicals zooming around.
The researchers concluded that the problem with the COX gene was a result of the amyloid plaque, not the cause, as had been thought previously.
A very important point: They did note that reducing free radicals can limit that amyloid plaque from forming, and concluded that a regimen of increased antioxidant intake is beneficial.
It's no mystery that fighting free radicals with antioxidants makes sense. And as I wrote to you in my last House Calls, supplements in general have been targeted by researchers who've made sweeping statements and allegations that have no basis in reality. So don't let flashy headlines from weak studies convince you to stop taking antioxidants.
I'm committed to giving you the real story, and as this research on Alzheimer's disease demonstrates—antioxidants provide real benefit for real problems. And with an estimated five million Americans affected by the disease—and that number predicted to explode as the population ages—we need responsible, sensible answers.
If you want to get your antioxidants the way nature intended. Eat a rainbow of colors when it comes to fruits and vegetables. As I mentioned in my last House Calls, I prefer an excellent botanical-based antioxidant supplement called Supercritical Antioxidants from New Chapter. It's widely available, and derived from whole plant extracts including turmeric, green tea, ginger and rosemary.
