Pharmaceutical Alternatives to Exercise, Fasting, & Aging

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Reading time: 8 minutes

What I Discuss with Dr. Sandra Kaufmann:

• Using pharmaceuticals as time-saving alternatives to traditional biohacks like sauna sessions and exercise routines…02:48
• The cellular mechanisms behind popular pharmaceutical alternatives, including autophagy enhancement – boosting the body’s natural cellular “clean-up” system – using metformin and pioglitazone…05:03
• Benefits of pioglitazone, and its efficacy in lowering glucose levels, mobilizing visceral fat, and enhancing mitochondrial function…08:36
• Selbex, an FDA-approved medication in Japan, effectively upregulates heat shock proteins, mimicking the therapeutic benefits of sauna sessions without the heat…13:39
• Hydralazine‘s dual benefits as a potent free radical scavenger and a trans-glycosylating agent, transferring sugar groups between molecules, along with the challenges it poses, such as carefully managing dosages to avoid adverse effects…19:57
• The Flozin family of drugs, which operate as sodium-glucose reuptake inhibitors, effectively lead to the excretion of excess glucose and offer a potent method to manage glucose metabolism…24:14
• Importance of safety when sourcing pharmaceuticals from international websites, including ensuring the authenticity and safety of medications before consumption..26:09
• Pentoxifylline’s for improving microvascular circulation, reducing blood viscosity, and enhancing mitochondrial health…27:45
• Genetic variations in enzyme activity that influence an individual’s response to pharmaceuticals and the practical “cheat tests” to infer genetic sensitivities…30:21
• Lithium and its broader applications beyond treating bipolar disorder, from improving telomere length to providing emotional stability and safeguarding cognitive health…31:03
• The importance of magnesium supplementation, particularly forms that can cross the blood-brain barrier, for overall neuronal health…37:29
• Dihydromyricetin (DHM), a supplement known for upregulating mitochondrial activity and aiding as a hangover remedy, highlighting its potential in enhancing overall liver and mitochondrial health…41:19
• The critical role of NAD in circadian rhythms and its optimal timing for supplementation to boost sirtuin activity—proteins that regulate aging, metabolism, and cellular repair processes in the body…43:46
• Efficacy of pharmaceuticals and peptides like MOTS-C and epitalon in supporting mitochondrial health and overall cellular function, considering age-related cellular changes…45:56
• Use of exosomes in Dr. Kaufmann’s longevity pyramid, detailing their applications—through injections or IVs—and the regenerative benefits they offer…47:24
• Updates on the Kaufmann Protocol, including upcoming seminars, streamlined supplements based on the “Seven Tenets of Aging,” and the collaborative Club Exosome, offering new avenues for longevity…49:51

Please Scroll Down for the Sponsors, Resources, and Transcript

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Resources from this episode: 

• Dr. Sandra Kaufmann:
• Steve McCain
• Brandon Birchak 
• Ben Greenfield Podcasts and Articles:
  • Age Reversal In Mexico: Follistatin & Klotho Gene Therapy, The Right & Wrong Kind Of Stem Cells, NK Killer Cell Infusion, Nerve Blocks & More With Adeel Khan.
  • Magnesium Supplementation: Everything You Need To Know About Dosing Magnesium, Timing Magnesium, Forms Of Magnesium & More!
  • The NAD Supersode: All Ben’s Crazy Questions About NAD, Natural Ways To Increase NAD, Living To 120 With NAD & Much More With Matt Titlow & Michael Roberts
  • Everything You Need To Know About NAD+: The Crucial Role It Plays In Your Mitochondrial Health, How NAD+ Slows Down Aging & Increases Energy, Ways To Increase NAD+ Using Lifestyle, Why NAD+ Precursors May Be Problematic & A Safe, Cost-Effective Oral NAD+ Supplement Strategy.
  • Ben Greenfield’s Ultimate Peptide “Power Plays” — Transformational Stacks for Rapid Recovery, Supercharged Fat Burning, Explosive Muscle Gains & More
  • The Future Of Stem Cell Therapy, Making Fancy Stem Cell Protocols Affordable To More People Than The Elite Rich, Stem Cell Injection Secrets & Much More With Dr. Harry Adelson.
• Articles and Studies:
• Other Resources:
• Pioglitazone: Synthetic agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs)
  • Mitochondrial biogenesis: Stimulates PGC-1, the master switch for mitochondrial biogenesis
  • Antihyperglycemic effects: Improves insulin sensitivity via PPAR gamma 1 and 2
  • Glucose transport: Increases levels of glucose transporters, specifically GLUT1 and GLUT4
  • Lipid storage: Promotes lipid storage and redistributes fat from visceral to subcutaneous deposits
  • Anti-senescent effects: Up-regulates telomerase activity and telomere-capping proteins, inducing anti-senescent effects in the vascular wall
  • Inflammation suppression: Suppresses levels of RAGE and NF-κB
  • Autophagy enhancement: Enhances autophagy through the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway
• Selbex (Teprenone): Japanese medication used for gastritis
  • Structure: Acyclic isoprenoid compound
  • Heat shock protein activation: Activates heat shock proteins, especially Hsp90
  • Hsp90α functions:
    • Serves as a serum biomarker and an essential intracellular chaperone for various proteins
    • Binds to both the γ and α subunits of AMPK with high affinity
    • Regulates AMPK stability and promotes its activation
• Epalrestat: Brain-penetrating aldose reductase inhibitor
  • Approval: Approved in Japan in 1992 for treating diabetic neuropathy
  • Mechanism:
    • Inhibits aldose reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the polyol pathway activated by hyperglycemia, which converts glucose to sorbitol
    • Reduces levels of sorbitol and fructose by blocking aldose reductase activity
  • Additional effects:
    • Upregulates NRF2 and promotes glutathione biosynthesis
    • Exhibits anti-inflammatory properties
• Canagliflozin: SGLT-2 inhibitor primarily targeting glucose reabsorption in the kidneys
  • SGLT-1 expression: Primarily expressed in the small intestine, responsible for the majority of glucose uptake across the brush border membrane of enterocytes
  • SGLT-2 expression: Primarily expressed in the kidneys, with canagliflozin showing a 250-fold selectivity for SGLT-2 over SGLT-1
  • Mechanism: Enhances glucose excretion to help manage blood glucose levels
  • Additional effects:
    • Increases PGC-1, improving mitochondrial quality and promoting biogenesis
    • Activates AMP kinase (AMPK)
    • Exhibits anti-inflammatory properties
• Pentoxifylline: Competitive, non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor
  • FDA approval: Approved for the treatment of intermittent claudication
  • Mechanism:
    • Improves red blood cell deformability
    • Reduces blood viscosity
    • Decreases platelet aggregation
  • Effects: Enhances microcirculation, improves blood flow, and increases tissue oxygenation
  • Additional properties: Potent anti-inflammatory agent
• Lithium: Mood-stabilizing medication primarily used for managing bipolar disorder
  • Mechanism of action:
    • Modulates neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine
    • Inhibits inositol monophosphatase, affecting intracellular signaling pathways
    • Stabilizes mood by reducing neural excitability
  • Neuroprotective effects:
    • Enhances brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels
    • Promotes neurogenesis, particularly in the hippocampus
  • Anti-inflammatory properties:
    • Reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine levels
    • Decreases oxidative stress in brain cells
  • Mitochondrial support: Improves mitochondrial function and enhances cellular energy metabolism
  • Additional uses: Investigated for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

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Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for Dr. Sandra Kaufmann or me? Leave your comments below, and one of us will reply!