Don’t Give In To The Aging Process

A number of age-related degenerative conditions suffered today, including neurological and vascular diseases, occur as a result of glycation and glycosylation. These terms refer to a process whereby glucose molecules bind to proteins, leaving them incapable of functioning properly.

You can fight against this aging process with Aminoguanidine – a potent anti-glycation agent. Studies have shown that it inhibits AGE (advanced glycated end products), and helps to tackle the problems that are associated with protein cross-linking, including: arterial hardening, cataracts, diabetes, inflammation (especially of the heart) and renal disorders.

Clinical studies conducted in Italy have illustrated Aminoguanidine’s ability to prevent “bad” cholesterol (LDL) from attaching to blood platelets. This may result in improved blood flow which can be of great benefit to those patients suffering with arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Aminoguanidine is a drug worthy of a place in the anti-aging arsenal, as it is thought to prevent some of the signs of aging caused by the cross linking of proteins within the human body.

What is cross linking?

Simply put, cross linking reactions occur when you cut a piece of fruit and leave it exposed to the air. This process that causes the fruit to turn brown and toughen also occurs in our bodies, and this may be responsible for the litany of degenerative diseases experienced today, including cancer, immune system dysfunction and arterial hardening. We are all aware of the importance of a strong and healthy immune system. It can help to prevent infection and some cancers from occurring.

As people age, they are more likely to experience heart problems, such as cardiac enlargement and arterial stiffening, and it is suggested that these conditions may be precipitated by the accumulation of Advanced Glycation End products (AGE).

Glycation (glycosylation) describes a reaction between sugar and proteins, referred to as cross linking, and results in the creation of large, cross linked molecules that interfere with normal cell functionality.

One animal study showed a 30% reduction in heart surface membrane, and an increase of 24-30% in the collagen content of the arterial walls. As such, Aminoguanidine is believed to be helpful in preventing age related cardiac enlargement. These research results demonstrated a two fold improvement; by preventing or slowing protein cross linking, and by inhibiting AGE-induced cross linking.

Aminoguanidine studies from the University of Milan over the last 25 years have determined that it reduces the likelihood of very low density lipoprotein, (bad LDL cholesterol), from binding to blood vessel walls. As a result, platelets are less likely to coagulate, forming dangerous blood clots.

Aminoguanidine is also effective in treating patients with constricted blood vessels. In 1992, further studies were conducted on 11 patients with peripheral vascular disease. Suffering with severely clogged arteries, they were unable to walk in excess of 500 yards. After treatment, their blood flow had improved on average by 30% and their ability to exercise improved by 50% to 105%.

Aminoguanidine and diabetes

Over the years, research into diabetes has established a link between cross linking and aging, as the levels of cross linking products in diabetics appear to be two to three times greater than in non-diabetics.

It is thought that diabetic complications may in fact be caused by an increased number of AGE products. Aminoguanidine may help to avoid or mitigate these complications, as it prevents sugars from binding to the lysine group of proteins.

A number of different studies of diabetic rats indicate that those given aminoguanidine have significantly better survival rates compared with those who remain untreated.

Diabetic, human, clinical trials have also illustrated aminoguanidine’s ability to prevent oxidative modification of LDL and to hinder the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Although glucose, which is found in every cell, is thought to be relatively stable, its cross linking with protein is thought to be inevitable. The process however, is believed to be reversible and preventable by employing glycation inhibitors, whose primary aim is to stabilize the metabolism of glucose.