Six Tips to Jump Start Weight Loss in the New Year

NewsRx.com

12-30-10

Losing weight is at the top of many a New Year's resolution list. In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough exercise, what else can one do to make sure those good intentions have a lasting impact throughout the year?

Below are research-based tips from investigators at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center that may help jump start one's weight loss progress in the coming year (see also Weight Loss).

1. Keep moving each day. We all know that exercise is crucial to losing weight, but sometimes it's easier said than done. The task need not be daunting; all it takes to see a weight-loss benefit is 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity daily. "You don't need to be athletic. Just brisk walking or dancing to your favorite music or using an aerobic exercise machine like a stationary bike or treadmill is all you need to do - just try to do it each day," said Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Hutchinson Center's Prevention Center. The exercise doesn't have to be all at once. "You can break it into 10- or 15-minute sessions throughout the day to get the weight-loss benefit," she said.

2. Keep a food journal. "By spending a little extra time to write down everything you eat and drink, you'll be able to see where extra calories sneak in," said postdoctoral research fellow Caitlin Mason, Ph.D., an exercise and health researcher in the Public Health Sciences Division of the Hutchinson Center. "There are lots of good online tools that can help estimate the calorie content of common foods and track your weight loss progress over time," she said.

3. Set realistic goals. "The biggest mistake people make when trying to lose weight is trying to lose too many pounds too fast or setting unrealistic goals," Mason said. "For long-term success, aim for a slow, steady weight loss of about 1 to 2 pounds a week. No one wants to lose weight only to gain it all back - and often more - a few months later.

4. Set specific goals. Instead of resolving to "lose weight," which is too general, set several smaller but more specific goals, such as eating five servings of vegetables per day, taking a 15-minute walk at lunch each day or drinking six glasses of water per day. "Adding healthy behaviors to your routine is often easier than telling yourself 'don't do this' or 'don't eat that,'" Mason said.

5. Don't let one slip-up derail your efforts. "Don't throw your entire routine out the window after one bad day," Mason said. "Instead, try to identify the specific barriers that got in your way and think through strategies to avoid such challenges in the future." For example, to avoid the temptation of buying a candy bar while standing in the checkout line at the grocery store, make sure to eat a healthy snack, such as a handful of nuts or a piece of string cheese, before going shopping.
6. Practice yoga. Two observational studies conducted by cancer prevention researcher Alan Kristal, Dr. P.H., a member of the Hutchinson Center's Public Health Sciences Division, have found an association between regular yoga practice and weight maintenance and weight loss. One of his studies, published in 2005, found that regular yoga practice is associated with the prevention of middle-age spread in normal-weight people and the promotion of weight loss in those who are overweight. A follow-up study published in 2009 found that regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, and people who eat mindfully are less likely to be obese. "These findings fit with our hypothesis that yoga increases mindfulness in eating and leads to less weight gain over time, independent of the physical activity aspect of yoga practice," Kristal said. "Mindful eating is a skill that augments the usual approaches to weight loss, such as dieting, counting calories and limiting portion sizes. Adding yoga practice to a standard weight-loss program may make it more effective."

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, our interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. Our researchers, including three Nobel laureates, bring a relentless pursuit and passion for health, knowledge and hope to their work and to the world. www.fhcrc.org

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise". For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

Keywords: Cancer Gene Therapy, Dancing, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Leisure, Oncology, Public Health, Weight Loss, Yoga.

This article was prepared by Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week via NewsRx.com.

To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com .

2007 NewsRx.com. All Rights Reserved.Copyright 2011, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week via NewsRx.com

Book Review: The Immortality Edge

Dr. Joseph S. Maresca, Basil & Spice
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

12-14-10

Dec. 13--This is an important book that has the potential to impact medicine far into the future. The author describes how lengthier telomeres are associated with longer life. In addition, they keep chromosomes intact. Telomeres are known to shorten with age. The major aging markers are oxidation, inflammation and sugar. The 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for telomere research.

The 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine was shared by grantees of the National Institutes of Health:

Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Ph.D, of University of California, San Francisco; Carol W. Greider, Ph.D, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Jack W. Szostak, Ph.D, of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

"The question of how cellular aging relates to abnormal cell division, such as cancer, and the aging of organisms continues to be the focus of rigorous study, thanks to the insights of Drs. Greider, Blackburn and Szostak, " said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.

Modern medicine, pharmacology, nutrition and exercise are known to extend life. Examples of life extension products and processes are antibiotics, antioxidants, diet, gum hygiene, blood pressure medications, clean water, hazardous chemical cleanup, air purification, refrigeration, nutrition, exercise and reduced smoking.

20 telomere foods are described. These foods have a strong association with longer life. Examples are blueberries, grapefruit, almonds, avocado, cabbage, veggies, beets, arame, wakame, tomato, tea (white, green, black), salmon, garlic and broccoli . These foods are also seen in the Paleolithic Diet.

There are blood tests which provide telomere length.

i.e. TA-65/PCR

The author provides a very exhaustive checklist which is associated with longevity. The checklist includes items which detract from telomere length for such things as:

o smoking

o drinking

o less than 5 hours a night sleep

o high blood pressure

o untreated diabetes

o over 30 pounds overweight and lack of exercise

o high cholesterol

o memory loss

o stress

Diet, exercise, Coenzyme Q 10 and a list of many other items are associated with a higher telomere length. The items (both good and bad) are netted. A score of 8001 and above is associated with a higher telomere length or longer lifespan without the blood test which costs about $350.00.

A list of super vitamins is provided by the author. The list includes Vitamins C, E, D, A, B-complex, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, K and choline.

An immortality edge is supported further by Omega 3, Acetyl L- Carnitine and NAC according to the author.

The Immortality Edge (Wiley/2011) by Michael Fossel et al, is reasonably priced for the value of the medical information described. This work has tremendous implications for reducing medical costs using naturally based foods, vitamins, stress reduction, exercise and other non-medicinal modalities like getting over 5 hours sleep per night. The presentation is easy to understand. This book will be appreciated by readers everywhere.

Joseph S. Maresca Ph.D., CPA, CISA, MBA: His significant writings include over 10 copyrights in the name of the author (Joseph S. Maresca) and a patent in the earthquake sciences. He holds membership in the prestigious Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society and Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society. In addition, he blogs and reviews many books for Basil & Spice. Visit the Joseph S. Maresca Writer's Page.

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Scientists discover powerful biomarker panel for the early detection of breast cancer

NewsRx.com

12-23-10

In the war on cancer, perhaps there is nothing more powerful in a physician's arsenal than early detection. Despite recent advances in early detection and treatment, breast cancer remains a common and significant health problem in the United States and worldwide. Approximately one in ten women will get breast cancer in their lifetime and more than half of women with late stage cancer (II and III) have no cure or effective therapeutic available (see also Breast Cancer).

Using a new, powerful method for rapidly screening molecules associated with disease, proteomics expert Joshua LaBaer and colleagues from the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University have identified a broad panel of 28 early predictors, or biomarkers, that may one day aid in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

"We do not have any available blood markers for breast cancer," said LaBaer, a Virginia G. Piper Chair in Personalized Medicine at ASU who directs the Center for Personalized Diagnostics at the Biodesign Institute. "Our hope is to combine a new type of blood test with mammography screening to aid in the early detection of breast cancer."

The findings represent the first demonstration of a custom protein array technology deployed to find biomarkers in breast cancer patients before they were clinically diagnosed for cancer. These biomarkers were specific for breast cancer patients and not in healthy women or women with a benign form of breast disease.

Their findings appear in the American Chemistry Society's Journal of Proteome Research.

Keywords: Arizona State University, Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Cancer Gene Therapy, Chemicals, Chemistry, Oncology, Technology, Women's Health.

This article was prepared by Women's Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com.

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2007 NewsRx.com. All Rights Reserved.Copyright 2010, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com

Calorie Control Council Predicts Top 5 Trends in Dieting and Weight Loss in 2011

PRNewswire

12-23-10

ATLANTA, Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- As the hectic holiday season comes to a close and a new year approaches, many consumers are once again vowing to adopt weight loss goals to shed those unwanted pounds. But with obesity increasing at alarming levels across the globe, a number of health experts are urging a new approach to help fight the nation's burgeoning weight problem.

Over the past three decades, obesity rates in the U.S. alone have soared among all age groups, particularly among youth where the rate has more than tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While many weight loss efforts have relied on the drastic elimination of certain foods and beverages, health professionals say it's time to focus on the adoption of small lifestyle changes that will prevent future weight gain.

"Small changes can produce big results," says Beth Hubrich, R.D., executive director of the Calorie Control Council, an international association representing the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry. "Reducing portions, controlling calories, increasing physical activity and adding more "color" to the plate (e.g., including more fruits and vegetables) can help people prevent weight gain without feeling deprived. These small changes are lifestyle changes and hopefully that is what 2011 will bring - a focus on healthy changes that can be maintained for life."

With so many Americans focusing on controlling and losing weight, what trends will emerge in 2011? The Council is making these predictions when it comes to weight loss and obesity for the coming year:

1) A focus on preventing weight gain. The average American adult gains one or two pounds every year. Over time, that annual weight gain can easily increase the risk for heart disease and other weight-related health problems. Instead of focusing on weight loss, though, some health experts are now emphasizing the adoption of small, achievable steps that will help adults avoid gaining weight. While this might seem like a minor effort in a nation where 65 percent of the population is considered overweight or obese, Dr. James O. Hill of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center is convinced that these small changes - such as cutting 100 calories per day and adding 2,000 steps per day of physical activity - may help combat the obesity crisis. This emphasis on prevention has been embraced by a growing number of health professionals who say the food restriction and dieting approach has proven ineffective in curbing obesity.

"It's always going to be harder to lose weight than to prevent weight gain in the first place. A weight 'loss' approach ultimately fails," states Hill, who helped create America on the Move Foundation's "Families on the Move" program, a national weight gain prevention initiative. "People need realistic goals, so we will continue to lose the obesity battle unless we do something qualitatively different. We have a better chance of using small, sustainable behavior changes that may be sufficient to prevent weight gain in most of the population. Walk a mile each day or take a few less bites at each meal. This approach can give us some needed optimism that we might actually be able to begin to turn the tide on the increasing prevalence of obesity."

2) Updated dietary guidelines to help shape eating patterns. The U.S. departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services are expected to soon release the 2010 dietary guidelines, which will serve as federal dietary advice for the next 5 years. Based on the results of a June advisory report, many health professionals anticipate the final guidelines to place even greater emphasis on physical activity, while urging people to eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, foods with Omega-3 fatty acids and low-calorie dairy products. Experts also expect the new guidelines to focus on limiting saturated fats and reducing "added sugars" in the diet (to reduce calories).

3) "Light" products light the way. With two-thirds of U.S. adults and almost one-third of children and adolescents overweight or obese, research shows that more consumers are increasingly focused on weight control. According to market research publisher Packaged Facts, the global weight loss and diet management market - including diet food and drinks, weight loss programs and services, surgical interventions and weight loss drugs and natural therapies - reached $26 billion in 2009. Diet food and drinks was the largest category, with $18 billion, or 73 percent, of total worldwide sales. The development of foods and beverages that provide satiety, or hunger satisfaction, is projected to be one of the hottest trends in weight management in the coming years. By incorporating low-calorie, sugar-free products such as diet sodas, light juices and light yogurts, consumers can control calories while still enjoying their favorite foods on a reasonable budget. For example, choosing sugar-free chocolate will save 50 calories a day. Over the course of a year, that daily calorie savings could result in a five-pound weight loss. Drinking a diet soda instead of the full-calorie version can save 150 calories a day - or potentially 15 pounds - by year's end.

4) A healthy staff is good for business. Health professionals expect that companies will continue to fight obesity with more corporate wellness programs in 2011. A recent study put the health care costs of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion per year, which can put a heavy price on employers covering paid sick leave and insurance policies. To help combat the problem, employers are creating incentive programs to stimulate health behavior change for employees in order to reduce absenteeism and costs of health insurance. According to a 2010 MetLife survey, more than one-third of employers now offer wellness programs - up from just over a quarter in 2005. Among the larger employers - those with 500 or more employees -- 61 percent now offer a wellness program.

5) Calorie consciousness is "in" at restaurants. Across the country, a growing number of cities have been experimenting with requiring restaurants and food chains to list the calories of the foods they offer on their menus. A new federal law that will take effect in 2011, for example, will require restaurant chains with 20 or more outlets to disclose calorie counts on their food items and supply information on how many calories a healthy person should eat in a day. The measure, which passed earlier this year, is intended to create a national policy modeled on legislation already approved in a number of cities and states including Philadelphia, New York City, California and Massachusetts that require restaurants with standardized menus to clearly label the calorie content of each item.

Overall, according to the Council, 2011 will be a year of positive change when it comes to calorie control - both calories consumed, and calories burned. "Forget about adopting extreme or restrictive diets and instead focus on a lifestyle approach that incorporates small improvements in eating and exercise habits," advises Hubrich.

For more information, along with free online calorie and exercise calculators, visit: http://www.caloriecontrol.org/.

Contact:

Kate Grusich

678-303-2967

Stan Samples

678-303-2996

Calorie Control Council

CONTACT: Kate Grusich, +1-678-303-2967, or Stan Samples,+1-678-303-2996

Web Site: http://www.caloriecontrol.org/

Copyright PRNewswire 2010

As we age, number of specialists in aging lags

Warren Wolfe, Star Tribune, Minneapolis
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

12-27-10

Dec. 26--By day, Hanaa al-Khansa is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Minnesota, hoping to practice family and pediatric medicine.

But on evenings, weekends and holidays, she's part of a small but significant experiment that could ease the widening gap between the needs of America's increasing population of elders and the supply of specialists who serve them.

Last week, at Augustana Apartments in Minneapolis, where she and her husband live amid people in their 80s, 90s and 100s, Al-Khansa was plying the halls, delivering holiday treats. It was a gentle way to check on frail neighbors -- and to master subtle lessons of aging that will help her be a better physician.

"You learn to listen with a different ear, to ask about problems in terms of daily life -- not 'How is your gait?' but 'Did you get to the grocery store today?'" said Al-Khansa, 26, whose family emigrated to Duluth from Malaysia a decade ago.

The leading edge of Minnesota's 1.5 million baby boomers is about to turn 65, eligible for Medicare, the federal health care program for the aged. Nationwide, for the next 18 years, about 10,000 more boomers will join them each day.

"But we're not ready for them," said Dr. Robert Kane, a physician and nationally known expert who heads the University of Minnesota's Center on Aging.

"Doctors, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, dentists, pharmacists -- you name a geriatric speciality, and we're short," said Kane, who tried unsuccessfully to persaude university officials to develop a geriatrics training center. "We're far behind, and I don't see how we can catch up."

The looming consequences are serious. The nation has 7,200 certified geriatricians, one for every 2,500 older Americans. Among Minnesota's 20,036 physicians, 186 are geriatricians. Some experts suggest that five times that many will be needed by 2030, when the country's aging population will have nearly doubled.

Scores of programs in Minnesota and elsewhere are working to develop specialists to care for the swelling ranks of the aged. Community colleges are training aides to work in nursing homes and home care. The U is training gerontological nurses and nurse practitioners -- a step between nurses and physicians.

Professionals with geriatric training can improve older clients' quality of life and lower medical costs by providing appropriate help, experts say.

"But a lot of people seem afraid to work with seniors," said geriatric social worker Christie Cuttell, 36, at Augustana Care Center, across the street from Al-Khansa's apartment building.

"People ask me, 'Isn't your work depressing?' Well, it's not. Yes, people die. But they also live, and many are still living fascinating lives, with fascinating stories," she said. "When I talk to students, I tell them about the demographics and the opportunities and how rewarding my work is. But they'd rather work with kids."

Most older people remain active and independent, but advancing age brings many chronic health conditions.

"An 85-year-old with heart disease may also have diabetes, respiratory problems, arthritis and maybe the beginning of dementia, with five different doctors and 15 prescriptions," said Thomas Clark, who operates a commission in Virginia that has certified about 2,250 geriatric pharmacists nationwide, 22 of them in Minnesota.

"The goal in treating a middle-aged man with heart disease may be just to fix his heart, but for an old man it may be to allow him to get to church, join friends for lunch and hold his grandkids," he said.

Along with helping doctors and nurses coordinate treatment of complex health problems, some geriatric pharmacists have set up new businesses to help older patients reduce debilitating problems caused by prescriptions from doctors who are more focused on diseases than aging patients.

"A little dizziness or dehydration may an annoyance to a 40-year-old," Clark said, "but it can cause a fall in a 90-year-old that sends her to a nursing home or kills her."

Geriatric car mechanic?

Not all experts on aging are pushing the panic button to get deeper training for health professionals.

"Let's quit worrying about getting docs and nurses and social workers with geriatric certification. We won't get enough because that's not where the money is," said H. Rick Moody, a philosopher, ethicist, gerontologist and director of academic affairs for AARP. "We pay people less, not more, to care for the elderly.

"Lets give a bunch of generalists -- in just about every profession -- some training in gerontology, because that's who the customers will be," said Moody, who is working with several trade groups to offer age training.

"Older people are the fastest-growing segment of America, and guess what? They've got the money. So I want to see my barber, my waiter, my banker and insurance salesman understand how aging is changing my needs," he said. "Heck, I want to find a geriatric car mechanic next week."

That's part of a new 3-D, virtual reality training project for nursing aides that's being developed at Pine Technical College in Pine City, Minn.

The idea is to use such technology for a role-playing exercise that can teach them how to respond on the job to common situations involving older patients.

"We'll have an Internet program to help nursing aides right after training, but we want to make it available to anybody," said John Heckman, who directs the school's spinoff business venture. "That might be high school kids considering a career in health care, or those bankers and salesmen who want to learn more about aging and their customers."

Learning by doing

For 11 years, Dr. Ed Rattner took university medical students to Augustana Care Center while he made his rounds, a modest introduction into geriatrics.

It wasn't enough. Two years ago, he approached Augustana with a proposition: You provide discounted housing, and I'll supply medical students to live there and, for course credit, interact with residents.

This year, eight graduate students, including social workers, seminarians and a physical therapist, live there -- two for a second year. Each connects with residents, especially those most at risk of needing nursing home care.

"One student told me she needed a new resident because hers had gone into the nursing home after being hospitalized," Ratter said.

"I said, 'Oh, no. Your job now is to get her home again,' so the student met with the nursing home staff and helped that resident get back home. That's geriatric education."

Ratter, a geriatrician who makes house calls, doesn't despair about the shortage of professionals with geriatric training -- partly because new state and federal health-system laws "will encourage us to do better at treating chronic diseases.

"We can keep chipping away, and I think we can improve care of older people," he said. "We'll never get it perfect, but I suspect baby boomers will demand that we do a better job -- now for their parents, and then for themselves as they age."

At Augustana last week, Al-Khansa sat with neighbors Herb Hanson, 84, a retired Lutheran pastor from Iowa, and his wife, Joyce, 80.

"Herb and Joyce are a perfect example of what I'm learning," she said. "They are so active, and some of my other neighbors are younger but much more frail.

"Don't assume you know much about an older person and what they need until you talk -- really talk. I realize, as I practice medicine, I will always be the student, and my patients will be my teachers."

Warren Wolfe --612-673-7253

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Copyright (c) 2010, Star Tribune, Minneapolis

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Get that winter glow

Zofeen Maqsood, Hindustan Times, New Delhi 

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

12-27-10

Dec. 25--Come winter and it's time for some extra tender loving care for your skin. While the harsh summer sun may be out for some time, the dry winter winds can be equally unrelenting for the skin. The low humidity during winter can cause the skin to become dry, flaky and dull. So we give you expert tips and tricks on how to get that baby soft skin with a super party glow even in mid-winter. Read on to bid shriveled, alligator skin a good bye this season.

Dry skin worries

Dr Sangeeta Amladi, Head Medical Services, Kaya Skin Clinic says, "External causes like low humidity enhances the drying effect on the skin. Exposure to dry wind and cold water further increases dryness. Also when the blood vessels supplying the skin become constricted, it reduces blood flow to the skin and sweat glands and oil producing glands in the body." When the water content of the skin diminishes both inside and outside, the skin cells become shrunken and dry.

Massage moments

Dr Shobha Sehgal Head Beauty, VLCC Health Care says, "The pre-bath warm oil massage, preferably almond oil, is compulsory in winter, especially for your elbows and knees. The massage not only ensures silky smooth skin, it also tones the muscles, soothes the nerves and aids blood circulation." Also avoid using products (lotion, hand sanitiser, etc) on your hands that contain alcohol.

Beauty basics

Ashish Gupta, from Damai spa, Gurgaon says, "Go for deep, penetrative moisture massages this season. Aromatic oil or vitamin C complex massage are the treatments to opt for. Also while putting make up prep up your skin by slathering moisture on the still damp skin."

Homemade wonders

Mix honey and milk and apply on the face. Mix half-a-cup honey to your bath water for soft skin.

Aloe Vera also helps to remove dead skin cells and is healing, and moisturising. Apply Aloe Vera gel topically on affected areas.

A face mask comprising of egg white and honey gently removes the tan.

For oily skin, soak multani mitti and mint powder in yoghurt for 30 minutes and mix them. Apply it on face for 15 minutes and then wash with lukewarm water and then by cold water.

Food-wise

• A healthy diet during this season should include the following;
• A bowl of green vegetables like spinach, avocado and asparagus with a seasoning of garlic
• A salad consisting of grapes, oranges, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and onions
• A bowl of fruits including watermelon, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, apricots

Other healthy practices

Skin cleansing should be limited to once or twice a day.

Avoid frequent application of moisturisers specially on face as over doing it could clog the pore

Exercise will clear your pores, increase your metabolism, and cleansing by sweating.

Smashing smackers

Here's how to make a lip balm for winter:

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon of beeswax

1 teaspoon apricot kernel oil

1 teaspoon of calendula oil

Few drops of essential oil of lemon and orange

Method: Melt the Beeswax. Add apricot and calendula oil into it while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir. Add the essential oil, when cold. Store in a glass pot.

What to avoid

• Harsh soaps, scrubs and loofas
• Toners and astringent
• Long hours in AC
• Frequent shampooing
• And for the hair
• Avoid taking hot showers or washing your hair in very hot water, use warm or cool water
• A leave-in conditioner works wonders for dry and brittle hair
• Using a blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron dries hair out even more in winter.

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Copyright (c) 2010, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

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A fountain of youth in your muscles

NewsRx.com

12-09-10


Working out can help you shed pounds - but that's just the beginning. New research from Tel Aviv University has found that "endurance exercises," like a Central Park jog or a spinning class, can make us look younger. The key, exercise, unlocks the stem cells of our muscles (see also Stem Cell Research).

Prof. Dafna Benayahu and her team at Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine say their findings explain for the first time why older people who have exercised throughout their lives age more gracefully. They have discovered how endurance exercise increases the number of muscle stem cells and enhances their ability to rejuvenate old muscles. The researchers hope their finding can lead to a new drug to help the elderly and immobilized heal their muscles faster.

The results of the study were recently published in the journal PLoS ONE.

The real rat race

The muscles and skeleton in our bodies work together, explains Prof. Benayahu. "When we age, we experience sarcopenia, a decline in mass and function of muscles, and osteopenia referrers to bone loss," she says. As a result, our musculoskeletal system is more susceptible to daily wear and tear, which also explains the increased risk of falling in the elderly.

Investigating a rat population, Dr. Gabi Shefer from the research team says that the finding shows that exercise increased the number of satellite cells (muscle stem cells) - a number which normally declines with aging. The researchers believe that a decline in the number of these cells and their functionality may prevent proper maintenance of muscle mass and its ability to repair itself, leading to muscle deterioration.

Comparing the performance of rats of different ages and sexes, they found that the number of satellite cells increased after rats ran on a treadmill for 20 minutes a day for a 13-week period. The younger rats showed a 20% to 35% increase in the average number of stem cells per muscle fiber retained - and older rats benefited even more significantly, exhibiting a 33% to 47% increase in stem cells.

A good reason to get up and dance

Endurance exercise also improved the levels of "spontaneous locomotion" - the feeling that tells our bodies to just get up and dance - of old rats. Aging is typically associated with a reduced level of spontaneous locomotion.

The combination of aging and a sedentary lifestyle significantly contributes to the development of diseases such as osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, as well as a decline in cognitive abilities. If researchers can discover a method to "boost" satellite cells in our muscles, that could simulate the performance of young and healthy muscles -- and hold our aging bones in place.

"We hope to understand the mechanisms for the activation codes of muscle stem cells at the molecular level," says Prof. Benayahu. "With this advance, we can let ourselves dream about creating a new drug for humans -- one that could increase muscle mass and ameliorate the negative effects of aging."

Keywords: American Friends of Tel Aviv University, Stem Cell Research, Stem Cells.

This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.

To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com .

2007 NewsRx.com. All Rights Reserved.Copyright 2010, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com

News about Diabetes

Data from Harvard University provide new insights into diabetes NewsRx.com 12-10-10 A new study, 'Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis,' is now available. "Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), which include soft drinks, fruit drinks, iced tea, and energy and vitamin water drinks has risen across the globe. Regular consumption of SSBs has been associated with weight gain and risk of overweight and obesity, but the role of SSBs in the development of related chronic metabolic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, has not been quantitatively reviewed," researchers in the United States report (see also Diabetes). "We searched the MEDLINE database up to May 2010 for prospective cohort studies of SSB intake and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. We identified 11 studies (three for metabolic syndrome and eight for type 2 diabetes) for inclusion in a random-effects meta-analysis comparing SSB intake in the highest to lowest quantiles in relation to risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Based on data from these studies, including 310,819 participants and 15,043 cases of type 2 diabetes, individuals in the highest quantile of SSB intake (most often 1-2 servings/day) had a 26% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those in the lowest quantile (none or <1 serving/month) (relative risk [RR] 1.26 [95% CI 1.12-1.41]). Among studies evaluating metabolic syndrome, including 19,431 participants and 5,803 cases, the pooled RR was 1.20 [1.02-1.42]. In addition to weight gain, higher consumption of SSBs is associated with development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes," wrote V.S. Malik and colleagues, Harvard University. The researchers concluded: "These data provide empirical evidence that intake of SSBs should be limited to reduce obesity-related risk of chronic metabolic diseases." Malik and colleagues published their study in Diabetes Care (Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care, 2010;33(11):2477-83). For additional information, contact V.S. Malik, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard School of Public Health and Dept. of Medicine, Boston, MA USA. Keywords: City:Boston, State:MA, Country:United States, Bariatrics, Diet and Nutrition, Non insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Nutrition Disorders, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases, Obesity, Overnutrition, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. This article was prepared by Obesity & Diabetes Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Obesity & Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com. To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com . 2007 NewsRx.com. All Rights Reserved.Copyright 2010, Obesity & Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com

Combating Skin Aging

LE Magazine January 2003

Combating Skin Aging

Going beyond antioxidants

While free radicals have been implicated in much of the damage that occurs to aging skin, there are other injurious factors that result in unsightly structural and functional deterioration.

KEEPING THE SKIN WELL OILED Nourishing the skin with topical ingredients is important, but in addition it is essential that you feed your skinnourishing food and drink. That means consuming lots of purified water and minimizing ethanol intake. Aging causes a progressive decline in our ability to internally synthesize the essential fatty acids required by the skin to maintain a youthful, moist appearance. Omega-3 fatty acids can make the skin smoother, softer and look more radiant. When skin is properly nourished, it shows less of the effects of aging. The oral ingestion of fish, flax or perilla oil provides abundant quantities of the omega-3 fatty acids that are so beneficial to the health and appearance of the skin.

For instance, aging skin cells suffer from metabolic imbalances that preclude them from performing youthful repair functions. The groundbreaking work of Benjamin S. Frank, M.D. showed that RNA improved cellular energy and the ability of the skin's cells to use oxygen. This improved metabolism enhances the movement of young cells to the surface of the skin where they replace old cells.

Another benefit from topically applied RNA is to repair early skin cell damage. Clinical trials by Dr. S.J. Jellinek in the 1970s demonstrated how creams containing RNA/DNA caused a visible lifting/tightening of the skin, and the wrinkles appeared to be less visible in a three-week period. Although the study was a small-scale study, it was nonetheless a double blind test. Very few commercial products provide the potency of RNA and DNA used in these studies.

Glycolic acid is a potent alpha-hydroxy acid that has been shown to erase fine wrinkles in aging human skin. The mechanism of action of glycolic acid is to break down old cells at the skin's surface so they can be replaced with more youthful cells underneath. A 22-week, double-blind, randomized clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital in 74 women over age 40 showed that topically applied alpha-glycolic acid significantly reduced wrinkling and other types of damage caused by chronic sun exposure. An alpha-hydroxy acid should be included as a constituent of any anti-aging topical program.

A study in the Journal of Pharmacology and Biophysical Research showed that ginkgo biloba extract signals fibroblast activity in the skin to increase the synthesis of collagen, while serving as an anti-inflammatory agent. Topical application of gingko extract has been found to reduce the irritation that some people experience when using products like Retin-A and highly concentrated fruit acid compounds.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HEALTHY SKIN Our skin is the largest organ in the human body weighing approximately ten pounds and covering an area of about 16 sq. ft. People often take skinfor granted and tend not to take optimal care of it. Our skin is responsible for protecting our internal organs from the toxic external world. Our skin protects us from heat, cold and physical injuries. It also provides us with sensory information about the nature of the external world, and is our first defense against invasion by bacteria, viruses and other toxic elements. The skin is also an excretory organ, removing toxins from the body via perspiration.

One of the major problems of advanced aging is the sagging of tissues caused by the destruction of the skin's underlying support structure (primarily collagen and elastin). While much of this structural deterioration may be preventable by lifestyle changes and proper use of oral and topical agents, it is difficult to reverse this unsightly collapse of facial tissues. In a study published in Skin Research Technologies,19 DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) was shown to produce a firming effect on the skin. This mechanism may be due to the fact that DMAE functions as a cell membrane stabilizer. Based on clinical reports, DMAE may be the first topical agent that can help firm sagging skin.

Keeping the skin moist

Replacing moisture lost to aging is a prime reason why women use face creams. Most commercial face creams are oil-based and work by blocking the release of water from the skin.

As people grow older, however, they cannot rely on oil-based preparations to block the release of moisture. That is because aged skin loses the ability to attract moisture in the first place and fundamentally becomes dehydrated. At this point, aged skin needs to be replenished with its natural moisturizer complex in order to attract and retain water.

The most advanced moisturizer is Ceraphyl® NGA, which functions by reducing the excessive drying in the upper-layers of the skin. Drs. Stig E. Friberg and David W. Osborne showed that Ceraphyl® NGA inhibits trans epidermal water loss by preventing the lipids (fats) from crystallizing. This mechanism is central to preventing dry, thin, leathery, dull, wrinkled skin. Ceraphyl® NGA also seems to increase the effectiveness of sunscreens and enhance the receptiveness ofskin cells to antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E.

THYROID FUNCTION ANDSKIN APPEARANCE People who are deficient in thyroid hormone are often overweight, easily fatigued and mentally depressed. Thyroid deficient individuals also have dry, flaky, sluggish skin. A blood thyroid profile or two-week basal temperature charting can reveal low or borderline low thyroid function. Refer to the Thyroid Replacement Therapy protocol at www.lef.org for information about diagnosing and treating thyroid deficiency.

Hyaluronic acid helps the skin retain its youthful moisture via a different mechanism than Ceraphyl® NGA. Hyaluronic acid maintains the integrity of the connective tissue because it is a source of manganese and glucosamine. Injectable hyaluronic acid may one day replace injectable collagen, but this important skin-preserving nutrient is available without a prescription today in over-the-counter skin creams.

The ability of skin to hold moisture is directly related to its NaPCA (sodium pyrolidone carboxylic acid) content. NaPCA is one of the skin's most important natural moisturizers. Old skin, however, contains only about half the NaPCA as young skin. NaPCA facilitates the moistening by pulling water in out of the air. Optimal protection against age-accelerating dehydration is best obtained by the topical application of NaPCA, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, urea, Ceraphyl® NGA and squalane every day.

Delivering nutrients to the skin

A concern amongst dermatologists is whether agents that are proven effective in fighting skin aging can be consistently delivered to the specific layers of the skin where they are known to induce their biological effect. The advent of liposome delivery technology has enabled scientists to increase the efficacy of topical anti-aging agents by delivering them into the inner layers of the skin.

A patented liposome delivery system trademarked QuSomes® (meaning "quick liposomes") was discovered in late 2000. This technology represents a substantial enhancement in conventional liposome vehicles. QuSomes® not only delivers active skin protecting ingredients faster into the lower layers of the skin, but these liposomes are also designed to protect the active ingredient from deterioration. With the unique QuSome® delivery system, the solubility of the active anti-aging agents is preserved, thereby enabling them to reside longer in the areas of the skin where they exert their greatest biological effects.

The availability of QuSomes® enables nutrients like alpha lipoic acid to be reliably delivered to the inner layers of the skin. Alpha lipoic acid is a super-potent fat and water-soluble antioxidant. What has scientists so excited about alpha lipoic acid is its role in maintaining the health of the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell itself. When the mitochondria are metabolically compromised, skin cells cannot perform youthful repair functions.

In addition, alpha lipoic acid helps turn off an inflammatory messenger known as nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB).The expression of NFkB induces inflammation at an early stage. Factors that suppress NFkB inhibit skin damaging inflammatory processes.20 (Editor's Note: NFk-B is a transcription factor. Transcription factors are messengers found inside the cell, which carry information from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. There they may activate or inhibit the production of certain proteins or enzymes, which then carry out a particular cell function. Such a function might be increased inflammatory factors.)

THE SKIN'S TWO LAYERS Our skin consists of two main layers-the dermis and epidermis. The dermis is the inner layer of skin that contains nerve fibers, fat cells, blood vessels, sweat and oil glands, and hair follicles. The dermis also contains collagen and elastin, two proteins that are responsible for the structure and elasticity of the skinitself. It is these proteins that are subject to the process of aging. The sweat and oil glands in the dermis protect the outer layer of skin with a thin coating of oil and perspiration. The epidermis is the very outer layer of our skin. New cells generated by the dermis continually replace this layer. Removal of the epidermis, as in a scrape or burn, reveals an unprotected sensitive dermis underneath.

Another benefit to having abundant quantities of alpha lipoic acid in the skin is its ability to regulate a collagen-regulating factor known as AP-1. When alpha lipoic acid activates AP-1, it turns on enzymes that digest only glycation-damaged collagen. As we age, proteins become glycated, resulting in the formation of non-functioning cross-linked tissues (advanced glycated end products, AGEs). The accumulation of these cross-links is a hallmark molecular characteristic of visibleskin aging.

QuSomes® can deliver alpha lipoic acid deeper into the lower epidermis (top layer) and upper dermis (lower layer) of skin. This makes alpha lipoic acid an exciting new weapon in the battle against the ravages of time.

Summary

Recently published findings indicate that one may have more control over the rate at which their skin ages than any other organ of the body.

To slow skin aging and partially reverse it, an individual must take a comprehensive approach to gain control over all of the factors that have been identified in the skin degeneration process.

For many years, a debate raged in the dermatological community as to whether topically applied anti-aging preparations could slow skin aging. The scientific literature now indicates that the daily application of a variety of agents can have a profound effect on both the health and appearance of the skin.

The next article describes the pioneering work of a medical doctor who developed the first topical preparation that contained ingredients that have now been shown to both protect and restore skin that has been damaged by irradiation and/or normal aging.

---

References

1. Podda M, et al. Low molecular weight antioxidants and their role in skin ageing. Clin Exp Dermatol 2001 Oct;26(7):578-82.

2. Sander CS, et al. Photoaging is associated with protein oxidation in human skin in vivo. J Invest Dermatol 2002 Apr;118(4):618-25.

3. Fitzpatrick RE, et al. Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage. Dermatol Surg 2002 Mar;28(3):231-6.

4. Dreher F, et al. Protective effects of topical antioxidants in humans. Curr Probl Dermatol 2001;29:157-64.

5. Yin L, et al. Alterations of extracellular matrix induced by tobacco smoke extract. Arch Dermatol Res 2000 Apr;292(4):188-94.

6. Traikovich SS. Use of topical ascorbic acid and its effects on photodamaged skin topography. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999 Oct;125(10):1091-8.

7. Darr D, et al. Effectiveness of antioxidants (vitamin C and E) with and without sunscreens as topical photoprotectants. Acta Derm Venereol 1996 Jul;76(4):264-8.

8. Rhie G, et al. Aging- and photoaging-dependent changes of enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants in the epidermis and dermis of human skin in vivo. J Invest Dermatol 2001 Nov;117(5):1212-7.

9. Giacomoni PU, et al. Aging of human skin: review of a mechanistic model and first experimental data. IUBMB Life 2000 Apr;49(4):259-63.

10. Scharffetter-Kochanek K, et al. Photoaging of the skin from phenotype to mechanisms. Exp Gerontol 2000 May;35(3):307-16.

11. Ridge BD, et al. The dansyl chloride technique for stratum corneum renewal as an indicator of changes in epidermal mitotic activity following topical treatment. Br J Dermatol 1988 Feb;118(2):167-74.

12. Chapellier B, et al. Physiological and retinoid-induced proliferations of epidermis basal keratinocytes are differently controlled. EMBO J 2002 Jul 1;21(13):3402-13.

13. Koussoulakos S, et al. Effect of vitamin A on wound epidermis during forelimb regeneration in adult newts. Int J Dev Biol 1990 Dec;34(4):433-9.

14. Varani J, et al. Vitamin A antagonizes decreased cell growth and elevated collagen-degradingmatrix metalloproteinases and stimulates collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin. J Invest Dermatol 2000 Mar;114(3):480-6.

15. Varani J, et al. Molecular mechanisms of intrinsic skin aging and retinoid-induced repair and reversal. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc 1998 Aug;3(1):57-60.

16. Gensler HL, et al. Effects of dietary retinyl palmitate or 13-cis-retinoic acid on the promotion of tumors in mouse skin. Cancer Res 1987 Feb 15;47(4):967-70.

17. Abdel-Galil AM, et al. Prevention of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced skin tumors in mice by simultaneous application of 13-cis-retinoic acid and retinyl palmitate (vitamin A palmitate). Exp Pathol 1984;25(2):97-102.

18. Sorg O, et al. Cutaneous vitamins A and E in the context of ultraviolet- or chemically-induced oxidative stress. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol 2001 Nov-Dec;14(6):363-72.

19. Uhoda I, et al. Split face study on the cutaneous tensile effect of 2-dimethylaminoethanol (deanol) gel. Skin Res Technol 2002 Aug;8(3):164-7.

20. Saliou C, et al. Solar ultraviolet-induced erythema in human skin and nuclear factor-kappa-B-dependent gene expression in keratinocytes are modulated by a French maritime pine bark extract. Free Radic Biol Med 2001 Jan 15;30(2):154-160.

Scientifically Advanced Skin Care Innovative Nutrients to Revitalize Your Skin By Dave Tuttle

Green Tea Polyphenols: Powerful Antioxidant Protection Green tea is one of the world’s most popular beverages, particularly in Asian countries like China, Korea, Japan, and India. Green tea is valued for its many contributions to whole-body health, and emerging research demonstrates that green tea benefits the skin as well as the rest of the body. Green tea leaves contain polyphenols that are recognized as potent antioxidants and effective scavengers of free radicals. These include a variety of catechins, the most important of which is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).26 Numerous studies have shown that topical application of green tea confers broad-spectrum protection against photodamage, one of the leading causes of visibly aged skin. Polyphenols from green tea leaves have been found to protect against the adverse effects of overexposure to ultraviolet light. MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION CONTRIBUTES TO SKIN AGING Scientists have long known that aging is associated with declining function of the mitochondria, the cellular power plants that produce energy to fuel the body.43 Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked with diverse conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.44 Emerging research suggests that impaired mitochondrial energy production plays an important role in another condition associated with advancing years: aging of the skin.45 Essential to youthful, healthy skin are cells called fibroblasts. Fibroblasts produce the essential proteins known as collagen and elastin, which provide structural support and elasticity to the skin. In aging adults, however, fibroblast cells demonstrate dramatic mitochondrial dysfunction.45 As a result, fibroblasts are less able to produce the energy required to carry out their essential skin-supporting functions. Scientists believe that this energy deficit of essentialskin cells contributes to the visible signs of skin aging.8,9 The fat-soluble antioxidant coenzyme Q10 is widely used to counteract the decline in mitochondrial energy production that accompanies aging.45 Scientists have discovered that both oral and topical use of CoQ10 restores deficient CoQ10 levels in skin cells.46 Oral and topical CoQ10 may thus help to counteract one of the underlying contributors to skin aging: impaired mitochondrial energy production. CoQ10’s nutritional cousin, idebenone, also supports mitochondrial energy production,18 while demonstrating enhanced absorption through the skin.11 Idebenone may thus play an essential role in counteracting skin aging due to impaired cellular energy production. For example, in a study at Case Western Reserve University, volunteers had areas of their skin treated with a green tea extract.27 Thirty minutes later, they were exposed to simulated solar radiation at a dose high enough to produce inflammatory redness, or erythema. The portions of the skin treated with green tea extracts had a reduced number of sunburn cells, and immune cells just below the skin surface were protected from the effects of the radiation. Green tea extract also protected against radiation-induced DNA damage. The researchers concluded that green tea polyphenols are effective in averting many of the detrimental effects of sunlight, and may thus serve as natural photoprotective agents.27 The photoprotective benefits of topical green tea have also been reported in other studies as well.28-30 A study from Korea found that when EGCG is topically applied to aged human skin, it stimulates the proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes, which increased the thickness of the epidermis.26 EGCG also inhibited the death of the keratinocytes after a period of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, thus conferring important photoprotection. When topically applied or consumed orally, green tea polyphenols enhance cells’ protective responses to inflammation and various chemicals that promote tumor growth. At the same time, these phytochemicals prevent ultraviolet B-induced oxidative stress and immune system suppression.31 By countering the effects of ultraviolet light and other cancer-inducing agents, green tea provides crucial protection to delicate skin tissues. Glycolic, Hyaluronic Acids Aid Skin Texture, Appearance As people grow older, they often notice that their skin becomes dry and discolored. Glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid may help to alleviate these signs of skin aging. Derived from sugar cane, glycolic acid is considered the most powerful of the skin-rejuvenating fruit acids called alpha-hydroxy acids. Glycolic acids helps trap moisture in the skin, promote collagen formation, and release the buildup of dead skin cells to reveal brighter, younger-looking skin. Widely used as an anti-aging agent for the skin, glycolic acid has demonstrated its efficacy in numerous studies. In a three-month study, people who applied topical glycolic acid to the face and neck demonstrated improvements in all assessments of photoaging, including statistically significant gains in general skin texture, color, and wrinkle reduction.32 A six-month study with 65 particiants noted an average 27% increase in epidermal thickness in those who used a daily topical glycolic acid cream.33 A study at Yale Medical School also found that applying a glycolic acid cream before exposure to ultraviolet B light helped protect the skin against inflammation and redness (erythema) from sunburn. Daily application of glycolic acid for seven days after sun exposure reduced redness and inflammation by 16%.34 This effect suggests that glycolic acid confers antioxidant effects in the skin. Another important and innovative ingredient in skin care is hyaluronic acid. A large sugar-like molecule found in every tissue of the body, hyaluronic acid is particularly important to the skin’s extracellular matrix, where it attracts and binds with water and its gel-like structure provides volume and fullness for the skin. Hyaluronic acid is thus crucial for maintaining smoothness and moisture in the skin.35 Hyaluronic acid also stimulates wound healing and helps protect wounds from free-radical damage. A study at the Wound Healing Center in Brescia, Italy, revealed that topically administered hyaluronic acid permeates the skin and provides powerful antioxidant protection against free radicals.36 This bolsters the skin’s ability to heal from cuts and abrasions. Glycolic and hyaluronic acids thus provide crucial antioxidant protection to the skin, restoring healthy texture, color, and moisture content. Vitamins C and E Defend Against Free Radicals Since the skin can easily be overwhelmed by free-radical-induced oxidative stress, ensuring broad-spectrum antioxidant protection is crucial in fighting skin aging. Decades of research have shown that vitamin E and vitamin C are especially important in preserving and restoring skin health. Vitamin E is the primary naturally occurring antioxidant in the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the epidermis. Composed primarily of alpha-tocopherol, this vitamin provides the bulk of our first-line defense against free radicals.37As a result, tocopherol depletion is a very early and sensitive biomarker of environmentally induced oxidative stress. Under such conditions, topical application of antioxidants can support the physiological mechanisms that maintain or restore a healthy skin surface.38 An experiment at the University of California, Berkeley, found that ultraviolet radiation significantly decreases concentrations of vitamin E in the skin.39 However, when vitamin E-rich oil was applied before the skin was subjected to radiation, much higher concentrations of vitamin E were preserved. This suggests that topical use of vitamin E can help maximize its concentration in the skin, helping to fight free radicals generated by solar radiation and other environmental stressors. In a double-blind study, a topical vitamin C complex was applied to one half of the face and a placebo gel to the opposite side. Clinical evaluation of wrinkling, pigmentation, inflammation, and hydration was performed prior to the study and at weeks 4, 8, and 12. The results showed a statistically significant improvement of the vitamin C-treated side, with decreased photoaging scores of the cheeks and the peri-oral area. The overall facial improvement of the vitamin C side was statistically significant. Biopsies showed increased collagen formation in the vitamin C group. This study demonstrated that topically applied vitamin C results in clinically visible and statistically significant improvement in wrinkling when used for 12 weeks. This clinical improvement correlated with biopsy evidence of new collagen formation.40 A randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted on human volunteers to determine the efficacy of topical vitamin C application in treating mild-to-moderate photodamage of facial skin. Methods of evaluating efficacy included an objective, computer-assisted image analysis of the skin surface, subjective clinical photographic analysis, and a patient self-appraisal questionnaire. Topical vitamin C was applied to one side of each patient’s face and a control vehicle on the other side for three months.41 The results using the optical image analysis demonstrated that compared to the placebo vehicle, the vitamin C-treated side of the face showed a statistically significant 71% combined score improvement. Clinical assessment parameters demonstrated significant improvement with vitamin C treatment compared to the placebo vehicle for fine wrinkling, tactile roughness, skin laxity/tone, sallowness/yellowing, and overall features. Patient questionnaire results demonstrated statistically significant improvement overall with the vitamin C treatment (84% greater than control). Photographic assessment demonstrated significant improvement with vitamin C treatment (58% greater than control). This three-month study using topical vitamin C provided objective and subjective improvements in photodamaged facial skin.41 A study of vitamins C and E in young, aged, and photodamaged human skin sought to ascertain the various levels of these antioxidants in each skin type. The findings showed that the concentration of vitamin E was significantly lower in the epidermis (upper layer) of photoaged skin (56% lower than in young skin) and aged skin (61% lower than in young skin). There was no difference in vitamin E levels in the dermis of each skin type. In photoaged skin, vitamin C levels were 69% lower in the epidermis and 63% lower in the dermis; in naturally agedskin, vitamin C levels were 61% lower in the epidermis and 70% lower in the dermis. Glutathione concentrations were also lower compared to young skin. These results show that the antioxidant defense systems in normal aged and photoaged human skin are significantly diminished compared to young skin.42 Vitamin E and vitamin C thus work together to provide antioxidant protection, support collagen synthesis, and reduce wrinkling of the skin. Conclusion The skin’s complex structure is vulnerable to free-radical-induced stress that manifests over time as wrinkles, dryness, thinning, and discoloration. Fortunately, innovative topical skin care agents help fight the signs of photoaging while restoring moisture, minimizing wrinkles, and improving the overall texture, health, and appearance of the skin. Diligent daily use of topical nutritional and botanical agents such as Matrixyl™ 3000, ceramides, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, idebenone, pomegranate, green tea, and vitamins E and C can help preserve and enhance skinquality. Advanced topical skin care should thus be considered an important component of a comprehensive anti-aging strategy, with the added benefit of producing highly visible results in a matter of only weeks or months.

References

1. Tran KT, Lamb P, Deng JS. Matrikines and matricryptins: Implications for cutaneous cancers and skin repair. J Dermatol Sci. 2005 Oct;40(1):11-20. 2. Available at: http://www.nhn.com/bin/tmpl/shop/pic/beauty/dermaprin_info/proven_effectiveness.pdf. Accessed October 16, 2006. 3. Farwanah H, Wohlrab J, Neubert RH, Raith K. Profiling of human stratum corneum ceramides by means of normal phase LC/APCI-MS. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2005 Oct;383(4):632-7. 4. Farwanah H, Raith K, Neubert RH, Wohlrab J. Ceramide profiles of the uninvolved skin in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are comparable to those of healthy skin. Arch Dermatol Res. 2005 May;296(11):514-21. 5. Lebwohl M, Herrmann LG. Impaired skin barrier function in dermatologic disease and repair with moisturization. Cutis. 2005 Dec;76(6 Suppl):7-12. 6. Akimoto K, Yoshikawa N, Higaki Y, Kawashima M, Imokawa G. Quantitative analysis of stratum corneum lipids in xerosis and asteatotic eczema. J Dermatol. 1993 Jan;20(1):1-6. 7. Coderch L, Lopez O, de la Maza A, Parra JL. Ceramides and skin function. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4(2):107-29. 8. Blatt T, Lenz H, Koop U, et al. Stimulation of skin’s energy metabolism provides multiple benefits for mature humanskin. Biofactors. 2005;25(1-4):179-85. 9. Passi S, De PO, Puddu P, Littarru GP. Lipophilic antioxidants in human sebum and aging. Free Radic Res. 2002 Apr;36(4):471-7. 10. Rusciani L, Proietti I, Rusciani A,et al. Low plasma coenzyme Q10 levels as an independent prognostic factor for melanoma progression. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 Feb;54(2):234-41. 11. Available at: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/jcd/2005/00000004/00000003/art00005. Accessed October 16, 2006. 12. Mordente A, Martorana GE, Minotti G, Giardina B. Antioxidant properties of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(10-hydroxydecyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (idebenone). Chem Res Toxicol. 1998 Jan;11(1):54-63. 13. Balin AK, Pratt LA. Physiological consequences of human skin aging. Cutis. 1989 May;43(5):431-6. 14. 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