Trace element responsible for active longevity found

Trace element responsible for active longevity found



Scientists closer to unraveling the mystery of healthy aging

The mystery of why some people live long and disease-free, while others are unlucky, is still

has not yet been solved. However, British and German researchers were still able to

understand what unites healthy centenarians. They analyzed the genetic

tests of more than a million people and identified regions of the genome associated with

longevity.

Aging occurs individually for everyone: for some, the degradation processes are turned on at the “fifth speed”, while for others, the “slow motion” mode operates. Why this happens, there is no exact answer yet, but there are versions that bring it closer. Scientists from the University of Edinburgh, based on large-scale gene analysis, found that DNA regions associated with healthy aging and long life expectancy are largely associated with the metabolism of iron in the blood. At the same time, many studies conducted around the world have shown that with certain violations of the norm of iron in the blood, not only anemia develops, but also some age-related ailments. Among them are Parkinson's disease, some liver diseases and age-related weakening of the immune system.

"High blood levels of iron reduce healthy lifespan. Maintaining these levels may prevent age-related diseases. We speculate that our discovery of iron metabolism may explain why consuming large amounts of iron-rich meat with age leads to cardiovascular disease." " says Dr Paul Timmers from the University of Edinburgh.

However, until now, doctors have talked mainly about the dangers associated with iron deficiency. According to expert estimates, more than 3.6 billion people in the world have a hidden deficiency of iron in the body. Every second of them suffers from iron deficiency anemia (about 25% of the world population).

The main causes of iron deficiency states are chronic blood loss and malabsorption and intake of iron from food. Signs of iron deficiency in the body - general weakness, fatigue, decreased efficiency, lack of concentration, daytime sleepiness even after a good night's sleep, increased susceptibility to infections and colds, chilliness of the limbs, increased fragility and excessive hair loss, dryness and pallor of the skin, appearance cracks in the corners of the lips, exacerbation of gastritis.

According to Anatoly Martynov, Professor of the Moscow State Medical and Dental University named after A. I. Evdokimov, iron deficiency is detected in a huge number of patients with chronic heart failure (37-61%), chronic kidney disease (24-85%), inflammatory bowel diseases ( 13-90%). In patients with inflammatory diseases, iron deficiency can lead to particularly severe manifestations of their disease. Reducing the level of ferritin (a complex protein complex that acts as the main intracellular iron depot in humans and animals) leads to an increased risk of death, as shown by recent studies. Iron deficiency was identified in 8.8% of people, but it was found more often in women (10.9%) than in men (6.3%).

A 14-year follow-up of patients with iron deficiency showed that their mortality was 58% higher. And the best prevention of anemia is the daily, at least a single use of meat products. It turns out that the golden mean is important - not a deficit and not a surplus. Scientists believe they can develop a drug that replicates the genetic influence on iron metabolism to prevent the effects of aging.



Source link