Paul, I quickly put together this list from several sources, and I'm
curious to get your opinion, additions, subtractions, etc. This is
an attempted breakdown of the key areas that a comprehensive
supplementation program can and should help each of us.

[I am going to classify them as primary or secondary. Secondary being those that
should get "fixed" or not need supplementation if the problems addressed by the
primaries are fixed. --Paul]


(1) anti-oxidation (free-radical removal)
(2) AGEs reduction (preventing and undoing AGEs)

[Since ROS and glycation pathology underlies all aging dysfunctions, these are
primary. However, this means that both your descriptions should be expanded.
There are ROS that are not free-radicals and there are reactive nitrogen species
that are neither of the others. In addition, glycation and crosslinkage of
proteins are harmful even if no actual AGEs are formed. So your (2) above would
be better described as glycation prevention/reduction agents. --Paul]


(3) optimization of hormone levels

[IMO, this is secondary except for postmenopausal females. --Paul]


(4) improving the immune system
(5) protecting the brain (nootropics)

[For the two above, most aging negatives are secondary, but some may be primary.
However, both are extremely important to maintain, and maintaining both at a
high functional level will greatly help all other body systems to be more
functional. Furthermore, I would expand (5) to include the entire nervous system
and all the I/O (eyes, ears, smell, taste). --Paul]


(6) blood sugar control

[I see no value to this except as it is a major way to control glycation - the
extended statement of (2) above. For example, my (12 hour) fasting blood glucose
is just over 100 right now (although my lowest blood glucose after eating is
actually 10 points lower) and I am trying my best to figure out why. However,
since my insulin, my glycation and inflammation are also very low, I am not that
concerned about it. Still I would like to get it down if nothing else would be
negatively effected, since that should lower my glycation even more. --Paul]


(7) inflammation control

[Again I think this is secondary and should take care of itself if all primaries
are looked after. It is mainly necessary when/if one is recovering from injuries
and if one has not begun the primaries early and consistently enough in life
(which neither I nor Kitty did - mainly because most of them were largely
unknown at that time). --Paul]


(8) reducing the chance of cancer (green tea, for example)
(9) reducing chance of heart disease
(10) DNA repair

[These are all secondary and (8) is even secondary to (10). Heart disease is
totally avoidable by diet exercise and life-style changes. Cancer is only
secondary with respect to its early appearance. Cancerous cells are almost
inevitable if one lives long enough, but the spread of it and its causing
debilitation and death should now be almost totally avoidable. --Paul]


(11) toxin and heavy metal removal

[This depends very much on the particular toxins and metals involved. The best
method is simply to not ingest any toxic chemicals or heavy metals. In addition,
whether or not toxic substances are highly harmful depends strongly on the
strengths of one's primary defenses and maintenance. OTOH, yes if one is
infested and being harmed by such toxic substances, then one certainly needs to
rid oneself of them. --Paul]


Thoughts?

[You have omitted a very important category of supplements - those which
increase the activity of enzymes by providing a super abundance of both
substrates and cofactors or down regulate other enzymes that can have negative
effects. All vitamins, some amino acids and some fatty acids are in this
category. Since a healthy body requires a healthy digestive system, another
important secondary category would be supplements that maintain and aid the
digestive system.

You have also omitted the most important anti-aging methods (which, granted, are
not supplemental): diet, exercise (both physical and mental) and
sleep/rest/relaxation/happiness. Without doing these adequately the supplements
above will not help much. --Paul]


Scott Miller
(aka DukeNukem at www.ImmInst.com)