Melatonin and Aging: What Is the Connection?

"The purpose of life is dying, but this should occur as late as possible." There are several bundles of evidence to suggest that melatonin influences the rate of aging:

- The antioxidant effect of melatonin was demonstrated in 1983 and has been documented by 528 scientific studies ever since.

- The level of melatonin was significantly decreases in inverse proportion to age, while oxidative stress increases in direct proportion to it.

- The level of melatonin is closely and positively correlated with the general antioxidant activity.

- Melatonin protects against free radical pathologies induced by carcinogens, herbicides and pollutants.

- Melatonin is a versatile antioxidant that crosses morphophysiological barriers (cell membranes, blood-brain barrier) and penetrates the membrane, nucleus and cytosol of cells, acting on the lipids in the brain and body.

- Melatonin deficiency, often induced in animals, leads to premature aging.

- Melatonin protects (in vitro) neurons from the effects of the amyloid beta protein, a key player in Alzheimer's disease.

- Melatonin protects neurons from death by excitotoxicity (another "killer" of neurons).

- Melatonin protects lipids from peroxidation

- Melatonin protects DNA from free radical damage

The clinical efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract in Alzheimer's disease

Professor Kanowski has presented the results of a double blind study in which 216 patients received 240 mg per day of either Ginkgo biloba extract or a placebo for 24 weeks. The clinical efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract has been demonstrated by an average increase of 2 to 3 points on the rating scale of symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. These results were confirmed by a study in the United States of America, where a dosage of 120 mg per day was used for a year. Pregnancy stretch marks can be avoided.

About the wild yam: The contribution of Dr. Dominique Rueff (Co-author of "Hormones, Natural Vegetables")
The yam has not fallen from the sky! This "sweet potato" was used and consumed traditionally in different continents such as Asia, South America and the Pacific Islands. It is still used traditionally for "gynecologic" purposes, whether hot flashes, infertility, bleeding problems or regulatory problems.

The yam does not turn into progesterone or DHEA in the body

It is true that yams contain a substance known as diosgenin, from which progesterone can be obtained, among others. This extraction is done "in vitro", i.e. "test tube", and there is no indication that this is done well in humans! Some think and say that it is their right and responsibility! So how is it that the consumption of yams may have effects similar to those of progesterone? Multiple hypotheses have been developed and research is ongoing: yam extract is extremely rich in various substances that act globally on the adrenal hormones since the subjects had high levels not only of progesterone but also of DHEA and other adrenal hormones after months or years of consumption. What is even more interesting is that it seems that it can act on the cellular receptors, increasing the sensitivity of cells to circulating hormones (such as DHEA or progesterone).

The opposition between DHEA and yams 

There are over two hundred species of yams with different properties - some are anti-inflammatory or disinfiltrating -, so there are numerous methods of preparation and concentration to achieve full power and efficiency. 

Note: Here are the two main aspects you should remember:

1) The wild yam is not a precursor of DHEA or progesterone;

2) It behaves as a mimetic of estrogen, as well as other phytoestrogens in the body. A study conducted by the University of Arizona compared the yam supplements to DHEA: DHEA can double the amount of serum within 3 weeks while the yam induces absolutely no change. The only question that remains is that of a possible stimulating effect on the adrenal glands for several months or even years after use.