These mice are 2 years old, the equivalent of 70 human years, but one on the right received the supplements and the other one didn’t.
Can supplements slow down the aging process?
Scientists at McMaster University have found that lab mice get smarter and more agile as they age when fed a mix of 31 nutritional supplements.
The animal results illustrate how investigators aim to slow down the aging process to avoid the physical and mental declines that often come as we age.
The results of the 2 year study showed mice that ate bagel bits soaked in a cocktail of supplements such as B vitamins, vitamin D, ginseng and garlic lived longer than those not taking the special mice supplements.
"If you put them on a supplement, they actually learn better as they age," Rollo said. "They still don't live much longer but their brain function is remarkable."
The mice that were fed the cocktail of supplements showed "spontaneous motor function" that fades in humans in a universal sign of aging.
The supplemented mice maintained their memory function in tests, such as remembering a familiar object. Their learning abilities were like those of very young mice, he said. Mice of the same age that were not supplemented behaved in lab tests like a frail 80-year-old woman.
Investigators turned to the cocktail of ingredients based on their suspected ability to offset five key mechanisms involved in aging.
The researchers have also doubled the lifespan of crickets using a combination of dietary restriction and supplements, and other investigators have found similar results in other animal models.
Most of the supplements Rollo and his team use are sold at health food stores. But he cautioned they are not something to be toyed with because the cocktail hasn't been tested to see if it is safe for people.
Scientists still don't how the supplements actually work and interact in the body.
VITAMIN Supplement Mouse Cocktail ingredients
Vitamin B1
Ginko biloba
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Ginseng
Vitamin B6
Green tea extract
Vitamin B12
L-Glutathione
Vitamin C
Magnesium
Vitamin D
Manganese
Acetyl L-carnitine
Melatonin
Alpha-lipoic acid
N-acetyl cysteine
Acetylsalicylic acid
Potassium
Beta carotene
Rutin
Bioflavonoids
Selenium
Chromium picolinate
Vitamin E
Folic acid
Cod liver oil (Omega 3)
Garlic
Coenzyme Q10
Ginger root extract
Flax seed oil
Related link: CBC news aging and Longevity research.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this vitamin supplement on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. Nor is any of the information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician. These dietary supplements are not intended as a treatment, prevention, or cure for a specific disease or condition.
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