In our contemporary society, several age-related degenerative conditions that potentially impair both the quality and the duration of our lives are caused or can be exacerbated by cellular exposure to chronic oxidative stress. Although many target tissues and organs may be adversely impacted by of chronic oxidative stress, typically, for a given individual, there will be one target tissue or organ which will be the first to suffer sufficient impairment to cause an observable health disorder. This tissue or organ will vary from one individual to the next as a function of the individual’s genetics, diet, and environment.
The Catalytic Longevity Foundation (CLF) is diligently working on the identification and characterization of the various sources for chronic oxidative stress, and is also working on nutritional strategies for minimizing particular oxidative stresses. It is the task of PhycoNox to implement the nutritional strategies developed by CLF.
One common cause of chronic oxidative stress is the inappropriate over-production of reactive oxidative species (ROS) such as superoxide. Chronic exposure to high levels of ROS can lead to impaired cell function and pro-inflammatory signaling. One of the more common causes for the chronic and inappropriate over production of ROS is excessive activity of a group of enzyme complexes known as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, also known as NADPH oxidase or, more simply, as NOX.
It is well known in the biomedical literature that NOX activity can be inhibited by bilirubin, a breakdown product of heme from red blood cells. The inhibitory activity of bilirubin upon NOX and its ameliorative effects with respect to various degenerative conditions has been well characterized in the biomedical literature.
One of the pioneering discoveries of CLF was the fact that phycocyanobilin, a component of spirulina, is a close chemical homolog of bilirubin and shares the NOX inhibitory activity of bilirubin. The consumption of spirulina has been associated with the amelioration of various degenerative conditions associated with chronic exposure to excessive levels of ROS and inflammation.
The CLF advocates that, on average, the daily consumption of either 15 grams of spirulina (dry weight)/day or 100 milligrams of phycocyanobilin/day can be used to reduce NOX catalytic activity and thereby decrease ROS production to a worthwhile extent. 15 grams of spirulina/day is considerably less expensive than 100 milligrams of phycocyanobilin/day and is, at present, the recommended dietary source for NOX inhibition. The 15 g recommended daily dose is estimated by extrapolating from the doses of spirulina that achieve optimal physiological benefits in rodents, and is clearly safe when spirulina is grown in an appropriate manner. Spirulina has been used as a traditional food by several human cultures.
The CLF has developed several good tasting spirulina products designed to deliver 15 grams of spirulina/ day. PhycoNox has licensed these products from CLF and is presently arranging for their production. Included amongst the spirulina products are the following, each of which will deliver 15 grams of spirulina:
- Good tasting spirulina bars.
- Good tasting spirulina smoothie mixes.
- Good tasting spirulina confections.
Check back soon for more information on our products.