Decreasing Oxidative Stress and Retarding the Aging Process

219 Pages·2014·7.13 MB·English

by  Poljsak, Borut

AGING ISSUES, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL ALTERNATIVES

D O
ECREASING XIDATIVE
S R
TRESS AND ETARDING
THE AGING PROCESS

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A I , H
GING SSUES EALTH AND
F A
INANCIAL LTERNATIVES

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AGING ISSUES, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL ALTERNATIVES

D O
ECREASING XIDATIVE
S R
TRESS AND ETARDING
THE AGING PROCESS

BORUT POLJSAK

————————————
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ISBN: 978-1-61324-943-7 (eBook)

Published by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. † New York
Contents

Preface vii
Chapter I Introduction to the Aging Process 1
Chapter II Description of the Problem 17
Chapter III Metabolic Rate and Lifespan 43
Chapter IV The Evolutionary Reasons for Not Perfecting
the Prevention of Free Radical Formation 49
Chapter V Methods to Decrease Oxidative Stress
and Retard the Aging Process 59
Chapter VI How Do Methods Claiming to Decrease
Oxidative Stress Compare with Studies
on Long-Lived Populations? 131
Chapter VII Methodology for the Detection of Oxidative
State in Biological Systems 137
Chapter VIII Conclusion 143
Acknowledgement 155
About the Author of the Book 157
References 159
Index 195

Preface

Aging is an inevitable biological process that affects most living
organisms. The link between metabolic rate and reactive oxygen species
production is an important and long-standing question and a source of much
controversy. A by-product of cell respiration in mitochondria is the formation
of reactive oxygen species due to electron leakage from the electron transport
chain during oxidative phosphorylation. In simple terms, humans are aging
due to oxygen consumption. Damage induced by oxygen appears to be the
major contributor to aging and the degenerative diseases of aging such as
cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune system decline, and brain dysfunction.
This book will present the following aspects:

• reasons for oxidative stress formation
• the answer to why during the course of evolution the process of free
radical damage and defense did not become more perfect so as to
produce less free radicals, and why nature from an evolutionary point
of view allows free radical damage to occur
• why tests with antioxidant supplementation to prevent oxidative stress
produced controversial results
• and finally, the description of new approaches that could be adopted
by individuals to decrease oxidative stress and retard the aging
process

There is substantial evidence from a variety of organismsdemonstrating
that in vivo oxidative damage is highly correlatedwith biological aging.
However, interventions aimedat reducing oxidative damage in mammals,
primarily through manipulationsof antioxidant systems, have yielded
viii Borut Poljsak
disappointing results thus far. For this reason, the new approaches presented in
this book could be implemented into the everyday life of an individual in order
to decrease oxidative stress and delay the aging process. All the approaches
are easy to follow or implement in an individual's lifestyle and are largely
inexpensive. All the theories and statements presented are strengthened by
appropriate references and data from scientific studies.
Chapter I

Introduction to the
Aging Process

“We’re all dying of the same insidious disease, it’s called human
aging. But there are ways to retard and even reverse the aging process to
live a longer, more youthful life. Getting older does not have to mean
growing older.”

- Dr. Ronald Klatz, President of the American Academy of Anti-
Aging Medicine

Despite the enormous consequences associated with the aging process,
until recently, relatively little systematic effort was expended on the scientific
understanding of this important life process. Through a variety of studies,
longevity experts are now identifying key factors that contribute to long
lifespans, including genetics, lifestyle choices and exercise habits. Researchers
estimate that 25 percent of lifespan variances can be attributed to good genes
and the remaining 75 percent to environmental factors such as exercise and
diet. A University of Cambridge study that followed 20,000 middle-aged men
and women in England for 11 years found that participants with healthy eating
and exercise habits could expect to live 14 years longer than people with poor
lifestyle habits (Khaw et al., 2008). Cardiorespiratory fitness in men and
womendeclines at a nonlinear rate that accelerates after 45 yearsof age.
Maintaining a low body mass index (BMI), being physically active, andnot
smoking are associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness across the
adultlifespan (Jackson et al., 2009). Researchers are also studying the dietary
habits of centenarians living in Okinawa, Japan, where there are five times