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Keeping Your Memory & Focus Sharp: How Your Diet & Nutrition Affect Cognition, Memory & Focus
November 29th, 2010 Lost your keys, can’t remember your grocery list? Having another “senior moment”? Can nutrition help your memory? Specific nutrients Lutein and Omega-3 DHA have shown to improve cognition (specifically short and long term memory). Up to 30% of people 50 yrs and older have been estimated to have some risk or degree of cognitive decline or impairment. By age 65, 50% of these people have been confirmed to have cognitive decline with 1 in 8 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. (Annals Intern Med, 2008; 148:427-434) Experts believe that Inflammation and oxidation are involved in age-related cognitive decline.- Omega-3 DHA = anti-inflammatory
- Lutein = anti-oxidant
Take a look at the special eBook we’ve created that can help you understand this and more:
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HealthSpan Solutions Launches New Lower-Sugar BeneVia at the 2010 ADA Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Boston
November 3rd, 2010Dr. John E. Morley, M.B., B.Ch. presents new clinical recommendations for healthy aging at November conference
LITTLE ROCK – November 3, 2010 – With 60% of consumers 50 years and above having at least one preventable chronic health concern, Registered Dietitians provide important health care management support for consumers. Understanding the growing need for more research around the changing life of “baby boomers”, BeneVia® is releasing the results of clinical research revealing improved health outcomes for age-associated health issues and healthy aging at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE; Booth 2430) which takes place November 6-9, 2010 in Boston, MA. In conjunction with the clinical results, HealthSpan Solutions, LLC will also be launching a new Low-Sugar formula of BeneVia® in all four products at this year’s event.
BeneVia® will distribute summary results of its recent research portfolio demonstrating how specific nutritional formulas can be used to target and improve specific health conditions. BeneVia will be provide educational sessions for Nutrition Professionals with a focus on Healthy Aging, Functional Medicine and Weight Management during the conference so that dietitians can sample each of the four Benevia® nutritional juice beverages and review results on health outcomes for specific health conditions. “We are very excited about BeneVia’s participation at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) and the opportunity to partner and help educate health professionals about nutrition for healthy aging and active lifestyles,” said Jennifer Ashley, RD, LD, and Head of HealthSpan Solutions Medical Marketing.
An added feature of the conference will be a presentation of the clinical research on muscle strength,and natural muscle loss (sarcopenia) in Aging by a leading Gerontological Researcher, Dr. John E. Morley, M.B., B.Ch . “Proprietary research results showing how specialized high leucine/essential amino acid protein blends can overcome age-resistant responses of muscle to aging demonstrates an important and practical way to manage healthy aging”, Mrs. Ashley commented. Dr. John E. Morley, M.B., B.Ch., is known internationally as a gerontological researcher, clinician, and educator. He is the director of Saint Louis University’s Division of Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Morley will also appear at BeneVia’s exhibit Booth 2430, where he will be signing copies of his book The Science of Staying Young, on Monday November 6 from 9 to noon.
“For older adults, a healthy and active lifestyle is important for long term health,” said John Troup, Ph.D., President & CEO of HealthSpan Solutions, LLC, makers of BeneVia®. “It takes daily attention to nutrition and the use of specific active nutrients targeting specific disease states to improve health. The BeneVia® commitment to healthy aging and partnership with RD’s is significant in healthcare management that will help professionals support older adults and their management of chronic diseases. BeneVia’s family of products help consumers manage age-associated health issues including loss of muscle, cardiovascular health, diabetes, cognitive performance and immune responses We are proud to offer the leading products in adult nutrition for health and age specific management” Troup concluded.
Study results are available online after the conference has ended.
Full Press Release: HealthSpan Solutions Launches New Lower-Sugar BeneVia at the 2010 ADA Food & Nutrition Conference and Expo
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Fighting Sarcopenia’s Muscle Loss is Helped by Protein Supplementation
October 8th, 2010Comparing Protein Intakes to Help Fight Muscle Loss & Sarcopenia
By John Troup, PhD
Active snacking is an effective way to deliver and maintain the recommended level of nutrient intake to fight the age-associated health issues like muscle loss & sarcopenia or loss of muscle. Although recent scientific studies have shown that 30grams of intact/whole protein intake is the single dose or amount of protein required to stimulate muscle building activity, nutrition practices show that trying to achieve that level of intake is not practical.
The illustrations below show what the per meal typical protein intake is and only at dinner time is 30gr of protein achieved. A simple solution, then might be to increase the per meal protein but using available whole food protein sources (beef, fish, chicken etc) would bring with it high levels of fat and additional calories not needed. Similarly, if a typical adult nutrition beverage was used as a meal supplement, not only would an excess of calories and fat be delivered, but the amount of protein available to help build muscle would not be optimal
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Most Effective Sources to Manage Natural Muscle Loss & Sarcopenia’s Muscle Loss
- Cost Effective with Optimal Nutrients Criteria Points to BeneVia®, Table 1 (below) shows a Product Comparisons with High Leucine/Essential Amino Acid combinations. Nutrient and Pricing per serving comparisons.
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- Table Two below, shows the comparison of various food types and amounts needed for optimal leucine intake.
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- Table Three below, shows the protein comparisons with major dietary food types and alternatives vs BeneVia.
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- Table Four below, shows the common nutritional protein sources.
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Dietary Practices Optimize the Fight Against Sarcopenia & Muscle Loss
October 6th, 2010 By John Troup, Phd Now that we know that sarcopenia (muscle loss) can be managed, minimized and/or avoided by using optimal nutrients like high leucine/essential amino acids, the challenge for healthy aging is to then understand what nutritional practices and habits can be followed to maximize muscle building potential. First its important to realize that while it seems many of us don’t consume enough key nutrients, we do consume enough or more calories. So its first helpful to find a way to supplement while minimizing the effect of more caloric intake – this can be done using specially formulated nutritional drinks with ViaLeuPro in BeneVia beverages. Secondly, its important to make sure the supplement is taken at a convenient time and when maximal muscle building effect can take place. Timing of intake, can also be an important advantage so as to keep as high as a rate of muscle building activity through the day as possible. In this way, several options can be important.The Objective of Supplementation should include the following considerations:
- Maximize the effect of protein for a net positive gain in muscle building capacity
- Increase active nutrients to a therapeutic level for improved health benefit
- Do so without increasing age accelerators to the diet.
Net Positive Gain for Muscle Building
Use Supplementation at Times that keep muscle building activity as high as possible and for as long as possible during the course of the day. Active Snack Times in Morning & Afternoon fill the gaps and increase overall muscle building capacity. Three Options for Supplementation presented below (Adapted by: Volpi E, Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78:250-258; Paddon-Jones D and Rasmussen BB. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2009;12:86-90):
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Increase Active Nutrients to Therapeutic Levels for Targeted Health Benefits
Active nutrients play a significant role in targeting specific health benefits and are not readily available at therapeutic levels in the typical diet.
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Avoid Adding Age Accelerators to the Diet When Adding Active Nutrients
Selection of food items should avoid those that add high levels of fat and saturated fat and that would result in 20% or more calories to the typical intake level of around 1800 calories/day unless food items are substituted. Saturated fats are key age accelerators and should be minimized. Smaller convenient portion sizes are also important to improve compliance and to avoid satiation such that a net decrease in caloric intake is unnecessarily achieved
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Effective Nutrients to Fight Sarcopenia’s Muscle Loss?
October 1st, 2010Preventing the Muscle Loss Related to Sarcopenia
By John Troup, PhD
Maintaining and/or improving muscle function and preventing sarcopenia (muscle loss) as we age is clearly an important part of our individualized health care objectives for healthy aging. But not all proteins or protein sources and blends are created with the same effect. While there are a number of protein types and sources available, not all have the same level of effect or improvement. Table 1 (below) presents this comparative table with the first line of data comparisons showing which source nutrient or protein has the highest effect on building muscle.
From a review of the scientific literature, its clear that the combination of high leucine/essential amino acids has the most significant effect on building and restoring muscle mass. Not only is the muscle building capacity the highest but the practical outcomes of improved muscle function and muscle strength are the most positive with this blend of high leucine/essential amino acids. Based on the proprietary science in developing this blend, it is now a patented formulation and exclusively available in BeneVia® nutritional beverages and called ViaLeuPro™.
Recently, a new nutrient called HMB (hydroxymethylbutyrate) a metabolic by product of the amino acid leucine, has been purported to be effective in building muscle and stimulating muscle protein synthesis. A review of the scientific literature suggests, however, that this metabolite, HMB has little to no effect on protein synthesis alone and only when combined with the amino acid arginine is any stimulation of protein synthesis observed. Even this combination of HMB/arginine however has only moderate effect on muscle building potential – especially when compared to intact protein sources or to the high leucine/essential amino acid mix, called ViaLeuPro™.
Table One: Comparative Effects Reported on the Effect of Muscle Energetics and Functional Outcomes of Selected Nutrient Energy Sources in Nutritional Beverages. Results represent studies with subjects 60yrs and older.
ViaLeuPro™ is the most effective energy source that helps build muscle and improve muscle function for healthy aging.
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Sarcopenia & The Not So Secret Secret to Aging
September 29th, 2010High Leucine / Essential Amino Acid Protein Sources Help With Sarcopenia & Aging Issues
By John Troup Protein is the single most important nutrient for muscle function. The fundamental way through which dietary protein affects muscle is stimulation of muscle protein synthesis (i.e., the body’s ability to build muscle) by the absorbed amino acids (11). Muscle protein is particularly responsive to the stimulatory effect of ingested protein/amino acids. Building muscle is stimulated by a single dose of amino acids to a greater extent than any anabolic hormone tested, including testosterone(12), insulin(13), and growth hormone(14).
Recent studies have proven the positive effect of amino acids on muscle protein synthesis translates to improvement in lean body mass, strength and function in elderly(15,16). The recent report of the Health Aging and Body Composition Study(17) confirms the importance of protein intake in preserving lean body mass on a large population basis. Changes in body composition were determined over a three year period in over 2000 individuals aged 70-79.
Individuals in the highest group of protein intake had 40% less loss in lean body mass over the 3 year period than those in the lowest groups of protein intake. The other three groups defined on the differences in levels of protein intake also corresponded to the extent of loss of lean body mass. So, its not surprising that in a different study(18) women with intake greater than the mid-range of 0.8-1.2 g protein/kg/day (1.20-1.76 g/kg/day) tended to have fewer health problems over the 10 year follow-up period than those with protein intakes < 0.8 g/kg/day.
Protein & Amino Acids Are Key
Amino acids are the key nutrient stimulators of muscle protein synthesis and thus play an important and critical role in stopping the age acceleration that poor nutrition and low protein intake have on the aging process. What’s the best way to put this to work for better health and avoiding sarcopenia? An optimal dietary supplement should have the greatest stimulatory effect on muscle protein synthesis using the least amount of amino acids. This combination will limit the impact of the supplement on other dietary intake, as well as minimize the serving size of the supplement, control (and minimize) excess incremental caloric intake and thereby increase the likelihood of compliance and improved results of maintain muscle function. All forms of dietary protein contain a mixture of essential and non-essential amino acids (EAAs – essential amino acids, and NEAAs – non-essential amino acids). Ingestion of only the EAAs is necessary for stimulation of muscle protein synthesis(25) resulting in positive muscle building and support effects. Unfortunately, a high quality protein contains approximately 50% EAAs. Thus, if a mixture of EAAs is given that matches the profile of the amino acids in a protein, only half the amount of EAAs is required as compared to the intact protein to elicit the same magnitude of response of muscle protein synthesis(26). In addition to providing necessary precursors for protein synthesis, some EAAs serve as molecular regulators of muscle protein metabolism. In particular, leucine has a well-defined role in activating the molecular process involved in initiating the process of protein synthesis(27). The role of leucine is particularly important in elderly individuals. A mixture of EAAs in which leucine comprises 40% of the total is approximately twice as effective in stimulating muscle protein synthesis in older individuals as the profile of EAAs in whey protein, which is a high-quality protein in milk.Leucine Alone Isn’t the Answer
Although leucine has an important and unique role in muscle protein metabolism in older individuals, ingestion of leucine alone is ineffective in stimulating human muscle protein synthesis. Other essential amino acids must also be present in the appropriate proportions. This cannot be achieved by simply ingesting a mixture with the same profile of EAAs as muscle protein. Due to different transport rates from blood into the muscle, the optimal profile of ingested amino acids differs from the amino acid profile of muscle protein. Adequate availability of the appropriate amount of amino acid precursors is necessary for the activation of muscle building activity caused by leucine. Dr. Robert Wolfe and his team of scientists at the University of Arkansas has done a great deal of research studying all of these considerations into the design of the optimal profile of amino acids that can most effectively build muscle, avoid sarcopenia and enhance health function for a healthy aging process. There is a dose response of muscle protein synthesis to this optimal mixture of additional EAAs when given in conjunction with high leucine (figure 1). Whereas leucine is a key component of the optimal formulation of amino acids to stimulate muscle protein synthesis, the effectiveness of the mixture results from the entire profile of amino acids.
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Sacropenia: Is This Natural Muscle Loss Over Time?
September 22nd, 2010 By John Troup We’ve all experienced the reality that time and age play on our bodies. In some cases it has helped us better understand the effects of gravity as our firm muscle mass has slowly sagged or simply disappeared – reducing our energy levels and limiting us from the activities we once enjoyed. For those actively exercising, it’s also common to notice that it takes longer to get into shape, even harder to keep exercising and longer to recover from the workouts we do. So, why is this and what can we do to avoid it and minimize this age-associated phenomena?Age-Associated Muscle Loss is Sarcopenia
Scientists around the world continue to study this change in muscle function and size with aging. While it is a scientifically complex phenomena, it appears that causative factors include sedentary lifestyles, higher amounts of fat mass which contribute to high inflammation that negatively effects muscle and changes in nutritional habits and practices that further complicate the process leading to sarcopenia, or age associated muscle loss. This process affects all individuals, and is central to the decrease in quality of life and activity that often occurs with aging. In more severe cases, there is a correlation between the extent of loss of muscle mass and strength with functional impairment (2,3), disability (4,5), falls (6), frailty (7), and the loss of independence (8). Recent studies suggest maintenance of muscle mass and strength in elderly decreases all-cause mortality and mortality from cancer (9) and from chronic obstructive lung disease (10) such that survival rates are significantly improved in these age-specific disease conditions. Accelerators of aging and muscle loss have recently been identified from population health studies providing us with the good news that specific habits and practices that include nutrition and exercise can help stop and reverse sarcopenia – along with a variety of chronic health conditions. These studies have shown that as we age, nutritional practices and habits also change such that important nutrients like quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, B vitamin intakes all decrease in our diets.
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Lack of Exercise Worsens Sarcopenia
Lack of exercise and activity confounds the problem and soon our muscles become more resistant to adapting and maintain their former high level of function. Typically, muscle loss begins to take place in our early 30’s and progresses to critical levels by our 60’s when it is not unusual to have lost more than 30% of total muscle mass. Gradually and often in parallel, other health issues occur (ie., heart, diabetes etc) and co-morbidities have negative effects on our health status. This causes the negative cascade with age – unless we do something about it.
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Get Up and Moving for Healthy Aging Month
September 8th, 2010
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Is Sarcopenia the New Osteoporosis?
August 25th, 2010 This is part one of a two part series dedicated to the topic of Sarcopenia, a disease that is common in older Americans and concerns the loss of muscle mass. Today’s post revolves around what exactly sarcopenia is. The second post in the series will focus on how protein can help counter the affects of sarcopenia. By John TroupOver 80% of Americans Are Afflicted by Sarcopenia
Everyone wants to live longer, but no one wants to grow older! Is it really possible to age-proof your body and achieve a longer life span? Hard to know for sure but a more successful approach might be accepting how long you will live and just make sure that your health span – or the quality of healthy living within your life span – is as good as possible. This means taking an active approach to your health and making sure you manage your diet and exercise in a way that maximizes your ability to stay active.
Since almost 80% of Americans are afflicted by sarcopenia (i.e., muscle functional and mass decrease) this is an even greater health concern today that has been shown to contribute to the high incidence of healthcare costs in those over 60years and leads to earlier decline of health. The good news is that nutrition can play a convenient and effective role in managing both sarcopenia and osteoporosis and is recommended by the worlds leading experts in healthy aging.
Nutritional Specific Advantages with Protein Energy Supports Active Life Stages
Over the last 30 years, health care agencies and the food industry have recommended avoiding bone loss (ie. Osteoporosis) to help make sure that as we age we can still be active. This is sound advice given the roughly 40% of older Americans effected by this disease state. Today, clinical experts and scientists in aging now agree that at least as important (and maybe more so) avoiding the typical loss of muscle mass and muscle strength seen in aging (i.e., sarcopenia) will not only keep muscles functioning and keep the body active, it also supports healthy bones. Lets take a closer look at how nutrition –and specialized protein sources in particular – can improve active lifestyles.Age-related Loss of Bone & Muscle: The Common Links of Sarcopenia are Not well Known
After the age of 35 up to 40% of women begin to lose bone density. The rate of bone loss typically accelerated again after age 65 but can be slowed with a combination of exercise and nutrient supplementation . While calcium is an important mineral to be taken to avoid loss of bone, vitamin D plays a more important role in re-absorption and use of calcium and thus more effective in maintaining bone health and avoiding osteoporosis(1,3,22,23). Thus, adequate calcium supplementation is important and why 50% of RDA levels of vitamin D are provided in BeneVia to help keep bones strong. Additionally, superior protein sources are provided which have also been shown to increase the use of calcium and result in less bone loss. Muscle loss occurs in more than 80% of male and females by age 35 and accelerates after 50 years to the point that our ability to move and maintain active lifestyles is significantly and adversely effected. In fact, by the time we reach 70 years, most of us will have lost up to 50% of the muscle mass we had when we were 25 years(2,4,11). What makes muscle loss an increasing factor for health risk is that as we lose muscle (or lean body mass), there is a shift to increasing amount of fat mass on our bodies – to the point that many of us will have 100% more fat mass on our bodies by the time we are 70 years than when we were 25 years(30,31, 41,42,43). This fat mass produces inflammatory factors which lead to chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high fat levels in our blood and liver (also called trigylercides) along with a loss of cognitive function and compromised brain health(6,7,22).Sarcopenia’s Muscle Loss is More Serious Than Osteoporosis
As we age, the loss of lean body mass compromises our ability to maintain healthy and active lifestyles. This change effects more of us and leads to compromised health and higher health management costs. This age-related change can be prevented and delayed with the use of nutritional support.Age Associated Muscle Resistance: The Inability to Build Muscle
Recent studies by leading scientists in the field of aging, have shown that as we age, our muscle become resistant to growing and building(22,24,25,42,43). This may be due to a number of factors but in part is associated to the higher fat mass than releases inflammatory factors accelerating the loss of muscle. This means that as we age in order to avoid the loss of muscle mass and strength, we need to find a way to overcome the resistance of muscles to want to grow and support our active lifestyles. Increasing protein is one consideration, but selecting the right protein to overcome this aging effect is a challenge. In Part Two of this Sarcopenia Series, we’ll talk about protein in relation to sarcopenia Read the rest of this entry »
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Bountiful Nutrition Straight From Your Garden
August 16th, 2010 By Sara LeBrunWhat is Good For Me is Good for My Garden
As I am preparing to write this blog, I look out my kitchen window at my tomato garden. I was amazed at the similarities between the needs of my plants and the needs of the human body. Both have a strong need for Protein (Nitrogen) to maintain their cells and their functions.
Protein is made up of 20 amino acids, 11 non-essential amino acids (ones that the body produces) and 9 essential amino acids (ones that we need from food sources since our body cannot produce). Each amino has a carboxyl group and amino group. The Amino group has one Nitrogen atom and two hydrogen atoms.
Protein is Important for Maintaining Muscle Mass
We are concerned with Nitrogen Balance similarly in humans and plants. The amount of protein (nitrogen) that is consumed is equal to that that is excreted. If you are in negative nitrogen balance then there is concern that your body is breaking down your lean mass (muscle and organs) for the protein the body needs to function. As we age our need for protein increases and the types of protein needed changes. A good rule of thumb for protein is 55 to 65 grams of protein (based on a 150 lb person) per day. The best sources of protein are complete protein (contain all 20 amino acids) such as beef, poultry, fish, dairy products and soy. Recent studies have shown that better sources of protein for aging individuals (starting at 30) is protein high in the Essential Amino Acid Luecine. (1,2,3,4) These new protein blends have been shown to be four times more effective at building muscle than other sources.Nitrogen is Important in Plant Growth
- Nitrogen is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy.
- Nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant that is responsible for photosynthesis.
- Helps plants with rapid growth, increasing seed and fruit production and improving the quality of leaf and forage crops.
Good sources of Nitrogen for Plants:
- Plant compost
- Barnyard Manure
References
- Paddon-Jones, D., et.al. Differential stimulation of muscle protein synthesis in elderly humans following isocaloric ingestion of amino acids or whey protein. Exp. Gerontol. 41 (2006) 215-219.
- Paddon-Jones, D., et al. Exogenous amino acids stimulate human muscle anabolism without interfering with the response to mixed meal ingestion. Am.J.Physiol 2005; 288: 761- 767
- Volpi. E., et al. Essential amino acids are primarily responsible for the amino acid stimulation of muscle protein anabolism in healthy elderly adults. AM.J.Clin.Nut 2003; 78:250 – 253
- Wolfe, R., et al. Optimizing protein intake in the elderly. Am J CLin Nutr. In press 2010
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