It turns out that the Ponce de Leon was looking in the wrong place for the fabled Fountain of Youth. It was recently discovered - in Wisconsin! And it turns out the Fountain of Youth isn't really a fountain - it's a biological compound produced in our own bodies. This compound is extemely important for the growth and development in our own bodies, and as the body's production of this subtance decreases with age, the signs of aging begin to appear - weight gain, wrinkled skin, loss of muscle, loss of cognitive function, and loss of libido.
This biological Fountain of Youth was discovered by Dr. Henry Lardy and associates at the institute for Enzyme Research at the University of Wisconsin. It's called 7-keto(tm), a metabolite of a hormone produced by the adrenal glands called DHEA (dehydropiadrosterone). Research on 7-keto indicates that it may work through a number of pathways to combat the signs of aging. Helping the body maintain a healthy weight as we age greatly improves overall health and longevity and is one of the strongest benefits discovered for 7-keto to date.
Unfortunately because 7-keto is a metabolite of DHEA, whose levels decline as we age, so to does this wonderful, natural bio-nutirent. Scientist originally looked to DHEA for improved cardiovascular vitality, and strenghtened immune and brain function. Researchers believed that declining DHEA so profoundly impacted our bodies that it could be partly responsible for the effects of aging. They hypothesized that supplementation with DHEA could sustain hormone levels and stave off many of the degenerative changes we collectively call aging. But there was a catch. Because DHEA is converted into sex hormones, people taking supplemental DHEA would sometimes experience the frightening, unwanted side effects associated with hormone supplementation.
In 1989, Dr. Lardy and his cooleagues set out to solve the mystery of eliminating DHEA's side effects by examining all of the constituents that make up DHEA. Ten long years of research unearthed hundreds of DHEA derivatives, which were developed and tested continously, until one derivative rose above all the others - a metabolite that was incredibly bio-active and far more promising than any other substance they'd tested. That metabolite is 7-keto. 7-keto outperformed DHEA and other metabolites in immune modulation, memory enhancement and thermogenesis and, more importantly, without any adverse side effects.
The most significant benefit of 7-Keto supplementation is its ability to support healthy body weight. Obesity is a major contributing factor in a number of serious medical conditions. A recent study assessed the effectiveness of 7-Keto on weight loss and body fat loss. Participants were divided into two groups; one group received 100 mg of 7-Keto twice daily and the other a placebo. Both groups exercised three times per week. At the end of the study, researchers noted a statistically significant reduction in body weight and body fat only in the 7-Keto group. Researchers concluded that 7-Keto was three times more effective than diet and exercise alone in promoting weight and fat loss.
Preliminary research also indicates that 7-Keto may support healthy immune and nervous systems. One study measured the effects of 7-Keto on memory function. Subjects were given a single dose of a stubstance that inhibits nerve cell communication and causes short-term memory loss. Afterwards subjects were given a single does of 7-Keto. Results showed that 7-Keto completely reversed the memory impairment, suggesting that 7-Keto supports memory retention.
Another study gauged 7-Keto's ability to support immune system function. Interleukin 2 (IL2) is a subtance produced by T lymphocytes that causes an increase of disease fighting white blood cells. White blood cells were taken from healthy volunteers and introduced into a solution that contained 7-Keto for 24 hours. When the cultures were tested for heightened IL2 production. 7-Keto was shown to augment IL2 production by a statistically aignificant 68%.
NOW® &-Keto(TM) is a well-researched and patented form of this amazing product that's supplied by the Humanetics Corporation. Humanetics 7-Keto(TM) has proven safe and well-tolerated in doses up to 200 mg. Research is clear, the rate at which we age can be influenced by the diet and lifestyle choices we make. One very smart choice would clearly be adding NOW 7-Keto to your diet.
References
1. 7-Keto(tm); The Key to Healthy Aging - Scientific Support; Humanetics Corporation, 1999
2. Garbis, Spiro; 7-Keto(tm) DHEA; internal meta-analysis, 2000.
3. Sahelian, Ray, M.D.; DHEA: A Practical Guide; Avery Publishing, 1996.
4. Lardy, H et.al. Dehydropiandrosterone and 7-Keto (tm) DHEA Augment Interleukin 2 (IL2) Production by Human Lymphocytes In Vitro, 5th conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Febuary 1-5, 1998, Chicago, IL
5. Davidson, M.H. et al. Clinical Safety and Endocrine Effects of 7-Keto(tm) DHEA; Presented at Experimental Biology 98 (conference), April 19-22, 1998, San Francisco, Ca
6. Shi, J. et. al. The Effect of 7-oxo- DHEA acetate on memory in young and old C57BL/6 mice; Steroids 65 (2000); 124-129
7. Colker, C. et. al. Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effects of Exercise Plus 3-Acetyl-7-oxo-dehydropiandrosterone on Body Composition and the Endocrine System in Overweight Adults; Journal of Exercise Physiology online; Vol. 2, No. 4, October, 1999
