Inside and out, new research is showing the benefits of prescribing the best anti-aging supplements for patients
The best anti-aging supplements show no sign of slowing down at any time in the near future in the current rising climate of optimal health and personal care. All you need to do is keep two numbers in mind: 74 and 37.
Those numbers represent the age span from the oldest of the baby boomers to the youngest of the Gen Xers. They are important because they are a reminder why you should be focusing at least part of your practice on providing the best anti-aging supplements, given the wide range between those two numbers.
One of the easiest ways to help your patients who are concerned about the effects of aging on their health is by guiding them toward anti-aging supplements that can offer the best results, backed up by proper scientific research.
Anti-aging from the inside: curcumin
Curcumin is probably the best known of all the anti-aging supplements. It is the main active ingredient in turmeric, which is used for making curry sauce in Indian dishes.
As a prized part of Ayurvedic medicine, curcumin has been used for a wide array of conditions associated with aging, including cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease.1
Researchers believe curcumin’s anti-aging properties are a result of its ability to activate sirtuins and AMPKs, which are proteins that help prevent cells from no longer multiplying.2
Green tea and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a compound often found in green tea, and there are a number of studies showing its benefits for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
A 2018 article published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology conducted a review to determine a pattern of similarity among the findings.3 The authors of the paper found that EGCG had a wide range of therapeutic benefits, including treating atherosclerosis, cardiac disease, diabetes, cancer and myocardial infarction. They concluded that these findings were promising and should prompt further research into the health benefits of EGCG.3
Anti-aging from the outside: collagen
Collagen is a protein the body naturally forms to help fill out the skin over the structure of the skeleton. It provides the face with the firm, round appearance we associate with youth.
Unfortunately, the body will lose collagen as it ages. However, collagen supplements can help counteract this process.
For example, a 2019 article in the journal Nutrients reported the results from studying a group of women taking a supplement containing 2.5 grams of collagen as compared to placebo. At the end of the 12-week study, the women taking the collagen supplement reported significant improvement in skin hydration, smoothness and elasticity, compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, their results were retained at follow-up and were well-tolerated.4
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
CoQ10 is an antioxidant that the body naturally produces to protect against cellular damage. Similar to collagen, the body will also lose CoQ10 over time.5 As a result of this loss, CoQ10 supplementation continues to gain popularity.
A 2015 paper in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging examined the effects of CoQ10 on quality of life, hospital visits, and physical and mental performance. A group of 443 study participants were given either a CoQ10/selenium yeast supplement or a placebo over a period of 48 months. At the end of the study period, the researchers found that CoQ10 supplementation showed improvement on all measurements.6
Best anti-aging supplements: garlic supplementation
Garlic can do more than just spice up your patients’ pasta. Animal studies have shown promising results for garlic having protective effects against skin aging as a result of excessive ultraviolet exposure.7
This type of skin aging commonly occurs from excessive sun exposure without proper protection. A 2016 article compared the effects of UV irradiation on hairless mice that were either fed a 1% or 2% garlic supplement, and a control UV-only group. UV exposure induced rough, wrinkled skin with noticeable scarring.
However, garlic at either dose diminished wrinkle formation. Furthermore, the researchers speculated that the antioxidant effects of garlic could prevent UV-induced skin aging altogether.7
Your baby boomer and Generation X patients are likely more active and health-conscious than their parents. As part of their focus on wellness, they will rely on your expertise about nutrition and the best anti-aging supplements. This is why it is important to stay abreast of current research in the anti-aging field and the hot supplements wellness patients are demanding.
TINA BEYCHOK is an editor and writer with expertise in technical, academic and scientific materials. She is a regular contributor to Chiropractic Economics and resides in Long Beach, Calif. Her online portfolio can be viewed at thatwordgrrl.com, and she can be contacted at tbeychok@gmail.com.
