Exercise May Protect Telomeres

Exercise may prevent stress on telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that are a measure of cell age and cellular health. Elizabeth Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues report that while psychological stress leads to shorter telomeres, exercise may prevent that damage.  The team focused on three groups: postmenopausal women who were the primary caregivers for a family member with dementia, young-to-middle aged adults with post-traumatic stress disorder and healthy, nonsmoking women aged 50 to 65. They examined telomeres in leukocytes, or white blood cells, of the immune system, which defends the body against both infectious agents and cell damage. Their conclusions: “Our findings suggest that traumatic and chronic stressful life events are associated with shortening of telomeres in cells of the immune system, but that physical activity may moderate this impact.”

Lin, J., et al. (2011). Psychological stress and its relationship to telomere length maintenance. [Abstract #1834/24]. Presented at AACR 102nd Annual Meeting, April 4.

 

Selenium Deficiency May Increase Risk of Chronic Disease

Making sure you get enough selenium may reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as cancer and heart disease. By analyzing data from hundreds of published articles, Joyce McCann and Bruce Ames from the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California examined 12 selenoproteins, five of which were classified as essential and seven as nonessential, and found that the activity and levels of nonessential selenoproteins were preferentially lost when the subjects were moderately selenium deficient. The nonessential selenoprotein Dio2 had previously been linked to a wide range of conditions, including osteoarthritis. The new findings included these positive benefits: Gpx1 may protect against DNA damage and, ultimately, cancer; Gpx2 may exert anti-inflammatory effects; and Gpx3 has been linked to improved cardiovascular health.

McCann, J.C., and Ames, B.N.  (2011). Adaptive dysfunction of selenoproteins from the perspective of the triage theory: why modest selenium deficiency may increase risk of diseases of aging. FASEB J. E-published March 14. In press.

—Dr. Bob Goldman
www.WorldHealth.net

 

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Dr. Robert M. Goldman MD, PhD, DO, FAASP has spearheaded the development of numerous international medical organizations and corporations. Dr. Goldman has served as a Senior Fellow at the Lincoln Filene Center, Tufts University; as an Affiliate at the Philosophy of Education Research Center, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, He is Clinical Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea Medical University; and Professor, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Central America Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Goldman holds the positions of Visiting Professor, Udayana University School of Medicine, Indonesia; Visiting Professor, Huazhong University of Science & Technology Tong Ji Medical School, China; Visiting Professor, The Wuhan Institute of Science & Technology, China; Visiting Professor at Hainan Medical College, China; and Visiting Professor, School of Anti-Aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine, UCSI University, Malaysia. Dr. Goldman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sports Physicians and a Board Diplomat in Sports Medicine and Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Goldman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sports Physicians and a Board Diplomat in Sports Medicine and Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine. He has overseen cooperative research agreement development programs in conjunction with such prominent institutions as the American National Red Cross, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Defense, and the FDA’s Center for Devices & Radiological Health.

Dr Goldman was awarded the 2012 LifeTime Achievement Award in Medicine &Science. Dr. Goldman is the recipient of the ‘Gold Medal for Science, the Grand Prize for Medicine, the Humanitarian Award, and the Business Development Award. He received honors from Minister of Sports and government Health officials of numerous nations. In 2001, Excellency Juan Antonio Samaranch awarded Dr. Goldman the International Olympic Committee Tribute Diploma for contributions to the development of sport & Olympism.

In addition, Dr. Goldman is a black belt in karate, Chinese weapons expert, and world champion athlete with over 20 world strength records, he has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Some of his past performance records include 13,500 consecutive situps and 321 consecutive handstand pushups. Dr. Goldman was an All-College athlete in four sports, a three time winner of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Physical Fitness Award, was voted Athlete of the Year, was the recipient of the Champions Award, and was inducted into the World Hall of Fame of Physical Fitness. Dr. Goldman was awarded the Healthy American Fitness Leader Award from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Goldman is Chairman of the International Medical Commission overseeing sports medicine committees in over 184 nations (by zachary berry). He has served as a Special Advisor to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. He is founder and international President Emeritis of the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the cofounder and Chairman of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). Dr. Goldman visits an average of 20 countries annually to promote brain research and sports medicine programs.