Science from NutraGenesis

Leptin- The Most Powerful and Least Understood Hormone in the Body

2010-09-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

Leptin is a master hormone in the human body with wide ranging influence over a multitude of bodily functions. Its discovery in 1994 by researchers investigating the cause of extreme obesity in a certain strain of mice led the researchers to conclude that these mice had a mutation in the gene responsible for leptin synthesis. Because leptin is a powerful appetite suppressor, its absence in the mutant mice led them to eat uncontrollably which caused their obesity. Since then, research on leptin’s effects in the body has exploded, resulting in the publication of thousands of scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. In addition to influencing weight management, leptin also supports many metabolic functions required for optimum health.

Leptin is a hormone that is produced by fat cells and acts as a lipostat in the body. The more fat a person carries, the more leptin that is produced. Under normal conditions, leptin exists in a free state in the blood, which allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier and effect changes in body functions by binding to receptors on the surface of neurons in a region of the brain called the hypothalamus.

Leptin and Weight Management
Leptin influences a diverse range of metabolic activities in the body. Its primary mechanism of action addresses weight management-related issues. Leptin enhances satiety and appetite control, leading to reduced food intake when fat levels increase in the body. Leptin also results in increased metabolism and thermogenesis by influencing the activity of the thyroid gland, which leads to increased breakdown of stored fat. Leptin’s effect on insulin function supports greater glucose balance which decreases fat deposition after a meal as well as the risk of developing Type II diabetes.

Leptin Resistance Occurs in Overweight People
Many people experience leptin resistance. They are overweight enough to have high levels of leptin in their bodies but are resistant to its effects. The main cause of leptin resistance is high levels of inflammation associated with weight gain. Research has shown that C-reactive protein, a marker of systemic inflammation, actually binds to leptin in the blood and prevents leptin from crossing the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain. Leptin resistant individuals have physiology that resembles that of a starving person. Low leptin functionality results in increased appetite and food cravings, slowed metabolism, and higher levels of serum glucose.

Leptin’s Role in Cardiovascular Health
In addition to its weight management-related effects, leptin positively influences many other health-related factors that are associated with the aging process. This is evidenced by adverse health conditions that occur when people become leptin resistant and have decreased leptin function. Of primary importance is leptin’s effect on cardiovascular health. The heart contains receptors for leptin which influence proper energetic function of the heart when leptin binds to them. Problems with leptin function are a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and also the deposition of fat inside arteries and atherosclerosis. It can also result in blood circulation problems such as high blood pressure because leptin triggers the release of stress hormones that constrict blood vessels. This can strain the heart and also cause kidney problems. Finally, leptin’s role in weight management can influence heart health because even modest weight loss has been found to reduce the risk of a heart attack.

Leptin Benefits Metabolic Health
Leptin is involved in proper platelet function and clotting. People with leptin resistance have an increased chance of stroke because poor leptin function results in greater risk of developing blood clots. Leptin also regulates cholesterol synthesis and other forms of lipid metabolism. In fact, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels often occur in people who are leptin resistant. Because leptin influences insulin function, problems with leptin can result in insulin resistance and Type II diabetes. Leptin also helps to mediate the manufacture of very potent inflammatory chemicals from fat cells that play a significant role in the progression of heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. The immune system is regulated by leptin and functions properly only when leptin levels in the body are maintained at healthy levels. Lastly, leptin affects the health of bones by regulating the amount of calcium they contain. High leptin levels inhibit the ability to grow new bone and can lead to osteoporosis.

Because leptin has such wide ranging effects on healthy weight management and metabolic wellness, there is increasing interest among medical professionals as well as consumers in finding ways to improve leptin function and reduce leptin resistance. These include nutritional solutions based on diets that specifically target leptin function, lifestyle changes that emphasize increased exercise and reduced sedentary behavior, as well as supplementation with dietary supplement ingredients that have been clinically tested to address leptin function.

* Dr. Abedon received his M.S. and PhD in plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Dr. Abedon may be contacted through Nutragenesis at 802-257-5345, or bruce@nutragenesis.com.

Multi-Functional Performance Activator

2010-08-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Muscle and Fitness Athletes Desire Comprehensive,
Performance-Enhancing ProductsThe demand for performance-enhancing, sports nutrition products in the muscle and fitness markets has exploded over the last five years, with athletes of all ages using specialized dietary supplements, drinks, and bars on a regular basis to increase energy, strength, and endurance. Gym users, endurance athletes, and weekend warriors alike are finding that energy supplementation is essential for enhanced workout productivity as well as muscle mass and stamina management. Increasingly, these groups are seeking innovative products that also speed workout recovery time and counteract negative physiological changes that exercise can produce in the body. In the pursuit of developing new, innovative sports performance ingredients, an ideal performance-enhancing product would provide multifunctional benefits including: long-lasting energy, increased anabolic metabolism to promote lean muscle mass development, curbing appetite cravings, natural stimulation of performance-enhancing hormones, and reduction of exercise-induced inflammation while having limited negative side effects to promote optimum health and wellness. Because many performance-enhancing products sold today typically fall short of satisfying these goals, new formulations containing novel ingredients are required. Today, such a novel, optimal performance-enhancing product exists and is sold by Nutragenesis under the tradename Sensoril®.

Sensoril® - A Novel, Comprehensive Performance-Enhancing Nutraceutical
Sensoril® is a proprietary, multi-patented, standardized extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), a plant grown in India that is revered for its ability to balance, energize, rejuvenate, and revitalize. Sensoril’s energizing and restorative characteristics result from unique bioactive compounds that are extracted from specially grown Ashwagandha roots and leaves in a patented, water-based process. These bioactives give Sensoril® adaptogenic properties. Adaptogens are a small group of plants and mushrooms that energize the body, increase its ability to resist and recover from stress, and stimulate an overall feeling of balance and normalization. Although adaptogens such as Ashwagandha, Siberian ginseng, Reishi mushroom, and Cordyceps mushroom have been used as energy and performance enhancers for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and countries of the East, the concept of adaptogenic energy and performance supplementation is relatively new to the West. As an adaptogen, Sensoril® is unique in that it provides sustained energy over the long term when taken as a tonic on a daily basis without any negative side effects. It also provides many other benefits that make it ideally suited for inclusion in a muscle and fitness performance product.

Structure/Function Claims:
• Helps boost energy levels*
• Enhances energy levels while helping to alleviate fatigue*
• Helps reduce stress-induced appetite cravings and weight gain*
• Helps inhibit cellular oxidative stress*
• Helps slow the effects of aging by inhibiting free radical damage*
• Promotes a healthy response to inflammation*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Performance-enhancing properties of Sensoril®.• Provides sustained energy
• Speeds workout recovery time
• Returns the body to balance after exercise-induced stress
• Lowers serum cortis ol levels
• Promotes the nat ural synthesis of performance-enhancing hormones
• Stimulates anabolic muscle development
• Increases metab olism
• Suppresses food cravings
• Reduces exercise-induced inflammation
• Displays no harmful side effects

Sensoril® - Clinically Proven To Boost Energy
Recently, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, human clinical trial was conducted that confirmed Sensoril’s ability to boost energy levels. Subjects taking Sensoril® at the recommended dosage of 250 mg per day experienced a 79% increase in energy. This significant energy boost contrasts with a nonsignificant rise in energy of only 7% in the placebo group Change in Energy in Subjects Receiving Sensoril® Compared to a Placebo. Sensoril® Boosts Energy at the Cellular Level. At the cellular level, Sensoril® enhances energy-related metabolism in several significant ways. Scientific research has demonstrated that Sensoril® increases levels of ATP and other energy-related cellular metabolites and intermediates that are produced in mitochondria, the cell’s energy factory. These metabolites are the underlying energy “currency” that drive all cellular processes and are vital for maintaining healthy levels of energy in the body. One possible explanation for this finding is that Sensoril® generates higher activity of enzymes like ATP synthase, which are responsible for their production from the breakdown of glucose, lipids, and other energy sources in the body. These enzymes can be rate-limiting factors in the production of useable energy.
Nutritional supplementation from Sensoril® that boosts their activity can actually result in greater energy levels felt by an individual. An alternate explanation is that these energy metabolites are by-products of increased rates of cellular respiration resulting from improved oxygenation of tissues. Except for short-lived bursts of activity that rely on energy generated anaerobically, without the need for oxygen, most activity in the body is aerobic and requires a continual flow of oxygen to tissues. Ashwagandha, from which Sensoril® is extracted, has been shown to increase oxygenation of tissues through the synthesis and activity of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that produces nitric oxide in the body. Cells that line the interior wall of blood vessels use nitric oxide to signal surrounding smooth muscle to relax. The resulting vasodilation (expansion) of blood vessels improves blood flow and oxygenation of tissues, leading to increased energy in the body. There is every indication that Sensoril®, like other powerful antioxidants, may also potentiate the nitric oxide-stimulating properties of other well-known nitric oxide enhancers like L-arginine.

Exercise Leads to Stress-Induced Hormone Changes in the Body
Although there are many positive benefits to exercise, such as it being psychologically calming, exercise also causes significant stress which brings the body out of its normal range of balance. Part of the body’s response to this stress
is to secrete hormones like cortisol from the adrenal glands. Cortisol levels can remain high in the blood for several hours after a workout is completed. This buildup of cortisol in the blood has several negative consequences for athletes.
Cortisol is a catabolic steroid hormone that studies have shown leads to the breakdown of muscle protein. In healthy athletes, this loss of lean muscle mass can occur within a few hours of even mild elevations in serum cortisol levels. Cortisol is also an antagonist of DHEA, another adrenal hormone, which is a precursor for testosterone. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that both DHEA and testosterone are vital for the maintenance of athletic energy. Testosterone is also an important androgen necessary for increasing muscle mass, bone density, strength, and stamina that athletes of both sexes require to attain peak performance.

So as cortisol levels rise in response to exercise-induced stress, energy becomes depleted and lean muscle mass is lost as DHEA and testosterone levels fall, resulting in decreased athletic performance.

High Cortisol Levels Can Promote Weight Gain
Athletes are concerned with maintaining a healthy weight not only because they want to look good after working out, but also because weight management is a vital component of achieving optimal performance and stamina levels. In fact, many athletic trainers recommend that their clients lean up and trim down for peak physical fitness. Many athletes often find it difficult to lose weight, however. The
catabolic loss of muscle mass associated with exercise induced spikes in serum cortisol levels can make weight loss difficult because muscles are a major driver of
metabolic rate. As muscle mass diminishes, a person’s reduced metabolism makes it harder to burn off excess calories.
High cortisol levels that result from working out also stimulate the appetite substantially. The body has evolved this response to stressful events as a mechanism for replenishing lost energy. Unfortunately, cortisol-induced food cravings,
especially for foods like fats and carbohydrates, can result in overeating and excessive consumption of calories. To make matters worse, most of these excess calories are deposited as visceral fat in the abdominal region surrounding the internal organs because fat cells in this region have up to four times the number of cortisol receptors on their cell membranes as fat cells in other parts of the body. Visceral fat is derided by athletes and medical practitioners alike not only because
it is unattractive and limits a person’s athletic potential, but also because its accumulation is now considered a contributing factor for insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.

Sensoril® Enhances Performance by Promoting a Healthy Hormone Balance
Sensoril’s superior performance-enhancing properties result from its unique ability to increase energy and help the body recover from exercise-induced stress through
improvement in stress-related hormone activity in the body. This was confirmed in a double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial in which subjects taking Sensoril® at the recommended dosage of 250 mg per day had a 24.2% reduction in serum cortisol levels and a 32.2% increase in serum DHEA levels (Figure 2). These types of hormone changes are normally associated with greater anabolic activity in the body, which leads to increased lean muscle mass. Reductions in cortisol levels can lead to improved weight management as extra muscle mass promotes a faster metabolic rate and food craving suppression restricts deposition of visceral fat. Increased levels of DHEA also lead to faster attainment of pre-workout energy levels. Because recovery time in between workouts is directly related to how quickly the body can return to normal homeostasis and become energized again, Sensoril’s energy-boosting and
cortisol-reducing properties can reduce recovery time in athletes.

Sensoril® Relieves Symptoms of Overtraining
Often, when athletes train at a very high level, they do not give their bodies enough time to recover in between workouts. This can lead to Overtraining Syndrome, a
debilitating condition characterized by rampant fatigue, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and loss of appetite and enthusiasm for training. These symptoms, which are similar to what a person experiences when they are subjected to chronic stress, result from a high cortisol:DHEA ratio in the blood. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial, subjects taking Sensoril® at the recommended dosage
of 250 mg per day experienced an improvement in similar symptoms including decreased fatigue, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and loss of appetite. In contrast, the placebo group saw no significant change in any of these symptoms for the duration of the study. These changes in stress-related symptoms were probably due to the decrease in cortisol levels described previously and demonstrate that Sensoril®
can help relieve symptoms of Overtraining Syndrome.

Sensoril® - Potent Antioxidant with Anti-Inflammmmatory Properties
After a hard workout, muscles and other soft tissues can become inflamed and sore, leading to delayed recovery time. This inflammatory response, involving a host of chemicals and immune cell types, is often compounded when free radicals are produced in large number because of an athlete’s high energy requirements. As an athlete’s energy needs rise, mitochondrial activity in muscles increases to convert glucose, lipids, and amino acids into useable energy through reaction with oxygen. A dangerous by-product of this biological activity is the formation of large quantities of free radicals, which can amplify the inflammatory response through upregulation of proinflammatory genes.
Scientific research has demonstrated that Ashwagandha, from which Sensoril® is derived, has diverse anti-inflammatory properties and relieves muscle pain. In fact, in the same double-blind, placebo-controlled study described previously, subjects taking 250 mg per day of Sensoril® had a 36.6% reduction, compared to placebo, in the level of C-reactive protein, a marker of systemic inflammation, and a 70.6% reduction in muscle pain. In addition, a recent study using an acute inflammation model in rats demonstrated that, compared to a control, Sensoril® significantly reduced soft-tissue inflammation as well as several biochemical indicators of inflammation in the blood after paws had been injected with carrageenan, an inflammatory agent. Sensoril® may reduce inflammation by virtue of its ability as an antioxidant to scavenge and eliminate free radicals, as well as the ability of its bioactive withanolides to suppress the activity of factors involved in proinflammatory gene expression (which was confirmed in a recent study).

Limitations of Today’s Stimulant-Based Performance Product Environment
The vast majority of performance products currently marketed to athletes focus on boosting short-term energy levels to increase strength and endurance by using plant-based active ingredients such as caffeine (or herbal ingredients that contain caffeine or similar chemicals). These actives mimic central nervous system stimulants and boost energy by increasing heart and breathing rates, and directing nutrient-rich blood to muscles and lungs, which leads to short-term gains in performance and the intensity of training sessions. However, stimulants have limitations that make them less than ideal for long-term use. They deplete the body of lasting energy as it slows down from the heightened energy state, often resulting in delayed recovery from exercise. If additional stimulants are used to offset this low, a rollercoaster series of highs and lows may result. Continual use of stimulants in this manner can strain the adrenal glands and lead to adrenal exhaustion, which has many of the same symptoms as Overtraining Syndrome (described previously). Stimulants are catabolic, resulting in the breakdown of lean muscle mass, and can intensify inflammation in the body that results from exercise. They also can be subject to increased dosage requirements as the body grows accustomed to their continual use. These side effects of stimulants may be counterproductive to most athletes’ performance and health goals.

Sensoril® Offers a Superior Alternative for Multifunctional Performance Benefits
Sensoril® offers a superior alternative to stimulant-based products and meets the current performance-enhancing goals of a diverse range of consumer groups. Sensoril®, when used by itself, provides long-lasting, natural energy that is safe and effective without producing negative side effects. It speeds workout recovery time by reducing inflammation, muscle pain, and the heightened cortisol levels that result from exercise-induced stress on the body. It promotes anabolic development of lean muscle mass, faster metabolism, food craving suppression, and the natural synthesis of performance-enhancing hormones, as well as relieves symptoms of overtraining. The combination of Sensoril® and a stimulant would also create an excellent sports nutrition product because Sensoril® provides balanced, sustained energy that complements a stimulant’s short-term energy boost and evens out the highs and lows stimulant users sometimes experience. Because of these outstanding properties, Sensoril® is the superior choice for dietary supplement, food and beverage manufacturers looking to develop a new generation of athletic performance-enhancing products that meet the multifunctional needs of today’s health-conscious athletes. ■
— Dr. Abedon received his M.S. and PhD in plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin- Madison and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Dr. Abedon may be contacted through NutraGenesis at 802-257-5345, orbruce@nutragenesis.com. © 2008

Wellbody • 365™ – Reducing Stress is Key to Healthy Immune Support

2010-07-19T05:22:00.000-07:00

The bridge between stress and immunity
A strong immune system that protects the body from invasion by foreign pathogens is critical to maintaining good health and well-being. Because of this, products that boost immune health are in increasing demand by consumers. A recent SPINS Inc. survey found that consumers spend over $10 million each year on products marketed specifically toward support of the immune system with sales increasing 15% annually. This makes it one of the fastest growing categories for dietary supplements. Yet most of these products overlook one of the most important factors that can negatively impact components of the immune system and increase the risk of getting sick…stress.
In fact, scientific research has proven that a person’s risk of getting sick is highly correlated with their stress level and that stress exacerbates symptoms of colds and flu. Chronic stress inhibits the body’s white blood cells, including neutrophils,monocytes, and lymphocytes such as T cells, B cells, and Natural Killer (NK)cells, and negatively impacts levels of cytokines (chemical messengers that are a
key component of the immune system). Stress also reduces antibody levels which are produced by B cells. These negative effects of stress on immunity are also compounded by the aging process because the immune system in older adults is less resilient than in younger people.
The deleterious effects of stress on immunity are mediated by the stress hormone,
cortisol, which is the end product in the body’s physiological response to stress that involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sometimes called the “stress circuit”. When stressed, the body responds by releasing corticotrophin
releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus. CRH travels to and stimulates
the pituitary gland, which results in the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)into the blood stream. ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands, located on top
of the kidneys,to release cortisol, which has wide-ranging effects in carrying out the stress response, including suppression of the immune system.
A New Dimension in Immune Wellness because increasing resistance to stress and reducing cortisol levels are integral to maintaining a strong immune system for optimum health, the next generation of immune support ingredients should be multi-functional, containing both an immune modulating component and a stress and cortisol reducing component.
WellBody 365™, which is marketed by Nutragenesis, sets a new standard in this category because it exhibits each of these comprehensive properties.*
WellBody 365™ combines the power of a clinically tested, multi-patented
immunomodulating Maitake mushroom extract with an advanced, multi-patented,
adaptogenic botanical extract of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).* This botanical extract is clinically proven to decrease stress and promote a calmer, more relaxed state of mind through a reduction in cortisol levels.*
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Sendara Award Winning Beauty from Within / Oprah Magazine

2010-05-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sendara™, Nutragenesis’ award-winning beauty-from-within ingredient, has recently been featured in a review of sun protection and skin beautifying products in The Oprah Magazine. Sendara™ is one of the two active ingredients in Fernblock®, the new “sunblock” dietary supplement marketed by Life Extension, the nationally distributed dietary supplement brand. The Oprah Magazine gave Fernblock® a very favorable rating for its ability to protect the skin from damage by UV light while enhancing skin health. Sendara™ is a patent-pending, proprietary complex of standardized extracts of two widely revered Ayurvedic medicinal herbs, Amla- the ultimate beauty enhancing superfruit, and Ashwagandha- the ultimate “mood food”. Sendara™ utilizes multiple mechanisms of action to reduce UV-induced photoaging, the number one extrinsic cause of aging of the skin. These include protection from free radical damage and enzymatic breakdown of the skin’s dermal components, as well as stress reducing, mood enhancing, and anti-inflammatory properties that enhance skin health.

* Dr. Abedon received his M.S. and PhD in plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Dr. Abedon may be contacted through Nutragenesis at 802-257-5345, or bruce@nutragenesis.com.

Sensoril Found To Reduce Stress Parameters And Cardiovascular Risk - Nutraceuticals World

2010-05-20T05:43:00.001-07:00

Sensoril Found To Reduce Stress Parameters And Cardiovascular Risk - Nutraceuticals World

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Recent Study Confirms Dieting Causes Stress and Increased Cortisol Levels

2010-05-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

Many weight management programs fail because people become stressed when dieting, which can lead to binge eating of high calorie, carbohydrate and fat-laden comfort foods. This ‘stress eating’ syndrome often results in unsightly weight gain and deposition of unhealthy abdominal fat, the opposite of the intended weight loss goal. In a recent study (Tomiyama, AJ, et al. 2010. Low calorie dieting increases cortisol. Psychosom. Med. 72:357-364) involving 121 female participants who either ate restricted diets, monitored the amount of food they ate (a common practice associated with dieting), or combined the two interventions, researchers discovered that diet-induced stress occurred when the number of calories eaten was monitored daily by subjects, independent of whether caloric restriction took place or not. In addition, serum cortisol levels rose in subjects whose daily caloric intake was restricted. Cortisol is an adrenocorticoid hormone that is associated with the “stress response” and which contributes to stress-eating. These results indicate that both mental and physical aspects of dieting have a negative impact on health and well-being. Stress reduction and cortisol reduction, therefore, are essential for the success of any sensible weight management program. SensorilTrim® is a safe, all natural, multi-patented nutraceutical ingredient that provides superior weight management and abdominal fat-reducing properties due to its clinically proven ability to lower levels of stress and serum cortisol. SensorilTrim® helps take the stress out of dieting, making it the perfect complement to any existing healthy weight management product.

* Dr. Abedon received his M.S. and PhD in plant genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Dr. Abedon may be contacted through Nutragenesis at 802-257-5345, or bruce@nutragenesis.com.