Vitamin and Mineral Consumption Linked to Delayed Biological Aging

Aging is an inevitable process that nobody can avoid. However, just because it is unavoidable, it does not mean you are totally powerless against it. A healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity and a well-balanced diet can help improve overall health, promoting a longer, healthier and hopefully happier life.

What is well-balanced diet, exactly? It refers to an eating pattern abundant in vitamins and minerals which boost your immune system, keep you healthy, and delay biological aging.

Factors that contribute to biological aging
First, it is important to discuss the different factors that contribute to biological aging, before evaluating the role of anti-aging nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. A few of the primary causes of aging include:

Free radicals – these molecules break down healthy cells and lead to premature aging. The process of aging at the molecular level is characterized by progressive accumulation of molecular damage caused by environmentally and metabolically generated free radicals, according to a study published in the Free Radical Research[1].
Glycation – a natural process in which the sugar in the bloodstream attaches to proteins and forms harmful new molecules called Advanced Glycation End-products or AGEs
Abnormal methylation – abnormal cell division that accelerates the aging process. According to the paper published in the BMC Biology, DNA methylation has become a hallmark of aging[2], and besides biological processes, it is thought that environmental factors contribute to this.
Besides the causes mentioned above, other factors that contribute to aging include chronic inflammation and “corrupted” genetic cell codes. Your family history also plays a role and based on the study from the American Journal of Epidemiology, a sedentary lifestyle speeds up the aging process[3] as well.

Do vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients help slow aging?
We are always told that anti-aging nutrients may help us live longer by delaying the natural aging process. One has to wonder; is that really true? The benefits of vitamins for aging are well-documented and numerous studies on this subject are still ongoing. For instance, a study whose findings were published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics revealed that high intake of vitamin and mineral-rich foods throughout early adulthood helps delay the biological aging process.

The study was carried out by Korean researchers and followed about 2000 middle-aged women and older adults for ten years. J. Y. Lee from Kookmin University, lead author of the research, explained that there is a positive association between the consumption of folate, potassium, and Vitamin C which also happens to be one of the vitamins that can support aging skin, and LTL or leukocyte telomere length.

The findings also show the positive effects of these nutrients are more pronounced in middle-aged adults than in older individuals[4], thus suggesting that eating antioxidant-rich foods and higher intake of a diverse range of essential nutrient can have a positive impact on the biological aging process, and support your health in later years.

Furthermore, a study whose findings were published in Clinical Interventions in Aging showed that older individuals tend to consume relatively lower amounts of vitamins and minerals than recommended[5]. The research showed that higher intake of these nutrients is strongly associated with improved health, which also includes longevity.

Anti-aging vitamins, minerals and other nutrients
We strongly believe that it is important to understand the anti-aging potential of the broad range of nutrients that are available when a healthy diet, when combined with products such as Xtend-Life’s Total Balance range.

In addition to boosting overall health and longer-term wellness, many of these nutrients can help your skin to maintain enhanced youth and vitality.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is one of the most well-known vitamins for anti-aging which is why it is also included as an ingredient in numerous anti-aging creams and products. What makes it so good? The answer is simple; it functions as an antioxidant. Not only does it help minimize the appearance of wrinkles[6], it also supports your eye health too.

Important: Xtend-Life includes natural Beta-Carotene and Natural Mixed carotenoids in our supplements. These are the best options to supply you with vitamin A. Please avoid supplements with Retinol, which is a form of vitamin A.

Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that your body needs to function properly and while its benefits are well-known, many of us are not aware that this mineral has anti-aging properties too. This study found that zinc deficiency is linked to premature aging[7].

Vitamin C
Benefits of Vitamin C for anti-aging are well-known. Besides its amazing potential to support immune system health, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that higher consumption of foods rich in this nutrient is associated with better skin-aging appearance[8]. Vitamin C anti-aging function is a major reason why you can find it in beauty products as well as in anti-aging supplements.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for seniors due to its beneficial impact on bone and joint health. Benefits of this micronutrient have been shown to go beyond healthy bones. Scientists discovered that regular intake of the sunshine vitamin is linked to a slower aging process[9].

Magnesium
This particular mineral participates in more than 300 processes in a human body so it should come as no surprise that magnesium has anti-aging properties. One study revealed that correcting the nutritional intake of magnesium could be a simple and inexpensive support for a healthier aging process[10].

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the most frequently mentioned anti-aging vitamins. It functions as an antioxidant and protects both the skin and your body from free radicals. Also, this vitamin promotes eye health, supports sharp memory and cognitive abilities, and much more[11].

The truth is, these are just a few of the many examples that demonstrate the importance of a diverse range of nutrient in healthy aging. If you are wondering about what the best anti-aging nutrient is, you will not come across a definite answer. It is also important to note that while each anti-aging nutrient comes with a wide array of benefits, it is the synergy of the different nutrients that produces optimal results.

How can I consume sufficient amounts of these nutrients?
This article demonstrates the beneficial effects of just a few essential nutrients, and you are probably wondering how to get sufficient amounts. The Western diet is not the healthiest in the world and often lacks the abundance of vitamins and minerals your body really needs. There is also yet another problem. Commercially grown fruits and vegetables result in decreased nutrient content, meaning your body still does not get  the essential nutrients that you might expect.

Since it is almost impossible to get an adequate level of the ideal nutrients through diet daily, you need dietary supplements to support your diet. When it comes to these products, you should be careful and avoid items you can find in supermarkets which only focus on a few specific nutrients and invest in products that provide a truely comprehensive range of nutrients designed to work in synergy to benefit the entire body.

Our Total Balance range is a Complete Nutrient System which delivers potent vitamins, minerals and nutrients to the right cells at the right time. This means fantastic support for immunity, overall health and aging.  We cut no corners in the production of our products and Total Balance is no exception.  Only the highest quality and most bio-available ingredients are included. 

To ensure that these potent ingredients are delivered to offer maximum absorption, we enteric coat our Total Balance tablets which means nutrients are protected from stomach acid as they travel to the upper intestine to be absorbed.

See which of our Total Balance products is best for you by following the link above and please contact our Customer Relations team for more information.

Conclusion
Essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals have tremendous potential to support immune health and improve our overall quality of life. The growing body of evidence confirms that many of them have anti-aging properties, and increasing your intake of a carefully balanced range of these nutrients is a great way to support healthy aging.

References:

[1] Suresh I.S. Rattan, Theories of biological aging: Genes, proteins, and free radicals. Free Radical Research Vol. 40 , Iss. 12,2006. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10715760600911303

[2] Aging and DNA methylation, Marc Jung and Gerd P Pfeifer, BMC Biology, 201513:7. DOI: 10.1186/s12915-015-0118-4 http://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-015-0118-4

[3] Associations of Accelerometer-Measured and Self-Reported Sedentary Time With Leukocyte Telomere Length in Older Women, Aladdin H. Shadyab et al., Am J Epidemiol (2017) 185 (3): 172-184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kww196

[4] Lee J.-Y., Shin C. & Baik I. (2016) Longitudinal associations between micronutrient consumption and leukocyte telomere length. J Hum Nutr Diet. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12403

[5] Thomas DR. Vitamins in Aging, Health, and Longevity. Clinical Interventions in Aging. 2006;1(1):81-91., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2682456/

[6] Vitamin A Helps Reduce Wrinkles Associated With Natural Skin Aging, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521162324.htm

[7] Zinc deficiency mechanism linked to aging, multiple diseases, http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2012/oct/zinc-deficiency-mechanism-linked-aging-multiple-diseases

[8] Dietary nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance among middle-aged American women, Maeve C Cosgrove et al, Am J Clin Nutr October 2007, vol. 86 no. 4 1225-1231, http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/4/1225.long

[9] Aging process may be slowed by vitamin D, say scientists, https://www.theguardian.com/science/2007/nov/08/sciencenews.medicalresearch

[10] Killilea DW, Maier JAM. A connection between magnesium deficiency and aging: new insights from cellular studies. Magnesium research : official organ of the International Society for the Development of Research on Magnesium. 2008;21(2):77-82., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790427/

[11] Vitamin E Benefits, Foods & Side Effects, https://draxe.com/vitamin-e-benefits/