Rebuttal to allegation that certain vitamins may shorten lifespan

It is almost inconceivable to think that for the greater part of the 20th century, a “scientific” debate raged as to whether cigarette smoking was dangerous. An even longer running controversy focused on whether food choices (i.e. diet) had any effect on how long people lived. It was not until the later part of the 20th century that the FDA admitted that high saturated fat diets increase heart attack risk. Today’s unanimous recommendation to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is a relative recent phenomenon. Back 50 years ago when mid-life heart attack rates were nearly triple what they are now, it was not unusual for people (especially men) to eat virtually no fruits or vegetables. Even now, the processed food industry heavily lobbies government agencies to not recommend disease-preventing foods to the public. Just as companies that profited by selling cigarettes and processed foods egregiously misled the public in the past, today’s consumers are confronted with so-called “scientific” reports that question the value of some dietary supplements. A report released on April 16, 2008 went as far as to suggest that certain vitamins might shorten lifespan. All of this is reminiscent of the scientific charade perpetrated by tobacco companies who falsely claimed that cigarettes did not cause lethal disease. In this case, the economic beneficiaries will be pharmaceutical companies who can expect increased sales of prescription drugs to those who fall for the latest media hype. As the Life Extension Foundation has done for the past 28 years, we will succinctly separate the facts from the fiction so our members can draw a rational conclusion about this latest hoax. Continue Reading   Prevention It used to be thought that little could be done to postpone what nature has in store for us. Today, a growing scientific consensus indicates that individuals possess a great deal of control over how long they are going to live and what their state of health will be. Mainstream medicine has relied on simple measures of preventing disease, such as controlling hypertension, yet many doctors are coming to the realization that additional steps can be taken to protect against premature aging and death. In fact, the results of tens of thousands of scientific studies make it abundantly clear that following the proper lifestyle can add a significant number of healthy years to the average person’s lifespan. Contine Reading Access the Bio-Identical Hormone Seminar on the Internet: The experts speak Bio-identical hormone therapy (BHRT) is finally getting its day in the sun. Top experts in the field will be revealing their approaches and the treatments they use in their busy practices. You’ll understand why their patients love them. These are the same experts who write the books, appear on TV and report to Congress. An opportunity to learn from these physicians is usually open to just doctors at medical conventions. Now you can hear the BHRT World Summit in the comfort of your home! This audio seminar will be presented the evenings of May 14 to 29. We invite you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear more then 10 practitioner/experts speak about everything from menopause to prostates, migraines to depression, cancer prevention to thyroid health and many more hormone related conditions. Continue Reading   Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes As humans age, pancreatic enzyme levels decline, diminishing the ability to break down food. Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes is Life Extension’s response to the need for a comprehensive digestive enzyme supplement. Designed to adapt to a variety of stomach acid pH conditions, Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes facilitates more powerful digestion of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and milk lactose than our previous formula. Butterbur Extract with Standardized Rosmarinic Acid For nearly three decades, doctors in Germany have prescribed a standardized extract of the herb butterbur to their patients suffering from nasal discomfort and its related problems. Butterbur’s main active ingredient is petasin, a phytochemical that may reduce spasms in smooth muscle, thus relaxing swollen nasal membranes. Life Extension Update AMA journal meta-analysis finds vitamin D supplements linked with reduced risk of dying over a six year period Higher vitamin E levels associated with lower mortality in men over 19 year period What’s Hot High magnesium linked with reduced mortality over an eighteen year period Antioxidant vitamin supplementation improves surgical outcome in critically ill patients Life Extension magazine Are dietary supplements causing people to live longer? The making of killer E: The truth behind the recent vitamin E controversy   If you have questions or comments concerning this issue or past issues of Life Extension Update, send them to ddye@lifeextension.com or call 954 202 7716. For longer life, Dayna Dye Editor, Life Extension Update ddye@lifeextension.com 954 766 8433 extension 7716 www.lef.org