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March 4, 2024PART 3 Stay In Your PRIME
Let’s imagine people as cars. There is nothing an enthusiast does not know about vehicle maintenance, including which fuels and oils to use and which car services are the best. The combustion of fossil fuels powers the majority of automobiles. The body is also a machine that consumes energy, primarily glycogen stored in human reservoirs. We burn our fuels and convert them into heat, i.e., energy, through a series of energy processes, depending on the need, just like cars, right? We use more fuel when we want to go faster. Of course, as the car ages, it requires minor services, but if we don’t take care of it, we frequently need to do a major one as well. The car goes to the mechanic, and we go to the doctor for repairs. If we put good fuel in the car, it will run better and last longer. We also need some nutrients to boost our system. As we get old, it becomes more and more important how we treat ourselves. Furthermore, as technology advances, several products can help our machines run more efficiently and break down less often. PRIME is an example of such a product.
Some supplements are not designed solely for athletes or physically active people. We often forget about the aging process, which affects us all in some way. As we age, our bodies undergo a number of physiological changes. Loss of muscle mass, bone density, and cognitive abilities are some of the side effects of aging.1 Can we do anything to stop or slow these processes? Aside from movement, which is the foundation of life, nutritional supplements can help us feel better. PRIME is a supplement that, in addition to being used by active young people, is also highly beneficial to older people for a variety of reasons, as we will see today.
Energy of life
The occurrence of any activity depends on energy. The primary energy currency in our organism is ATP. The phosphocreatine system provides ATP primarily for short-term high-intensity activities and at the beginning of any physical exercise, regardless of intensity.2 Creatine (Cr) in the phosphocreatine system, and in its active molecular form, phosphocreatine (PCr), as a bioenergetic, represents the donor of the phosphate group (Pi) in the metabolic process of ATP synthesis/resynthesis.
The organism is supplied with creatine through nutrition or through endogenous synthesis. Cr depots are mainly found in skeletal muscles (98%), of which 40% are in free form and the other 60% in phosphorylated form.2 Smaller amounts of creatine are deposited in the brain, heart muscle, and testicles.3 Under normal circumstances, the concentration of PCr in skeletal muscle is four to six times higher than the concentration of ATP.2 Creatine is a very important, if not the most important, energy donor in our body. The good thing is that we can increase the amount of stored creatine in our muscles and brain. It is logical, without any science, that more of this energy source will allow us to perform some activities for a little longer.
Given that creatine is mainly found in muscles, older adults may need creatine supplementation more than young, physically active people, and here’s why.
Muscle strength remains relatively constant until the fifth decade of life and then begins to decline at a rate of 1.2–1.5% per year thereafter.4 Similarly, muscle mass begins to decline at a rate of ~0.8% per year after the age of 50.5. Lack of muscle mass logically leads to the conclusion that creatine levels also decrease.
Evidence is accumulating that creatine supplementation can positively affect aging muscle. In the most recent meta-analysis, Chilibeck et al.6 showed a significantly greater increase in lean tissue mass (1.37 kg) and upper- and lower-body maximal strength in aging adults (n = 721; 57–70 years of age) who supplemented with creatine during resistance training (7–52 weeks) compared to placebo during resistance training. The greater increase in lower-body strength from creatine is especially important as lower-body muscle groups are more negatively affected during the aging process.7
In the only study published so far on co-supplementation of creatine and GAA in elderly subjects, this formulation improved brain creatine levels and a parameter related to upper and lower extremity strength after only two months of supplementation.8 Further research is needed to confirm these findings, but this formulation appears to be an effective solution and potential supplement for the elderly.
In conclusion, creatine supplementation has been shown to positively affect sarcopenia and cognition in older persons, including increased benefits and a better quality of life.9
Stay in PRIME Condition and Build Your Dream House
Another component of PRIME that prevents muscle mass loss is Beta-hydroxyl-beta-methyl-butyrate (HMB). HMB is metabolized from Leucine, one of the most important essential amino acids. HMB can be found in a variety of food sources, including grapefruit and catfish. HMB is significantly more efficient than Leucine at preventing muscle protein breakdown.10 Also, it may enhance the secretion of growth hormone and insulin-like growth hormone (IGF1), thereby enhancing the development of lean muscle mass. This is primarily important for older adults. Due to aging, they lose muscle mass. This loss leads to a string of events like sarcopenia or osteoporosis. Suddenly individuals start to move less, and that is how this vicious cycle is made.
In addition, HMB can reduce muscle damage from intense exercise.11 Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of HMB in enhancing strength,12 boosting aerobic and anaerobic performance,13-14 decreasing body fat, and elevating muscle mass.15
Moreover, the synergistic effect of HMB and creatine on strength and anaerobic performance is ideal. As reported by Fernandez-Landa, when compared to one another, the mechanisms of action of creatine (primary energy donor) and HMB (rebuilder) couldn’t be more opposite.16 The confirmation of these synergistic effects was made as well. HMB improves the efficacy of (exercise) rehabilitation programs and speeds up recovery after hospitalization or surgery in the elderly and those with chronic diseases. As a bonus, HMB has been shown to have potential benefits for the elderly, including the maintenance of bone density, the enhancement of cognitive function, and the reduction of abdominal fat.17
Brain Food
While muscle cannot generate creatine, the brain can.18 In addition, the nervous system contains the enzymatic apparatus needed for endogenous creatine synthesis, and creatine transporters are found at the blood–brain barrier, in neurons, and in oligodendrocytes, indicating that brain creatine may not be solely dependent on endogenous production from other organs or diet.19 Brain creatine content may be changed by aging,20 however some of the research indicates that healthy elderly and young people have comparable PCr levels.21 Reduced brain and/or physical activity may also affect brain creatine concentrations. The overlap between these parameters may misrepresent age-related deterioration (reviewed in Rawson and Venezia,2011).22
The existing evidence suggests that supplementation may cause increases in both creatine and PCr in the brain, however, these increases are less than those reported in muscle (half the increase).23 Interestingly, Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA), a creatine precursor, can raise brain creatine levels more than an equimolar dose of creatine.24 Creatine is primarily transported by a specific transporter (SLC6A8 or CT1; also used for GAA transport), but dietary GAA can be imported to the brain by various transporters and routes (including SLC6A6, GAT2, and passive diffusion)25 and methylated to creatine. Although preliminary, these findings are significant given the brain’s ability to create creatine and its diminished ability to transport it over the blood-brain barrier.
These increases can be beneficial to the improvement of memory and cognition. There are some unpublished data regarding creatine drop after COVID-19 and that creatine supplementation can augment this decrease. However, there is a need for more evidence to confirm these hypotheses. The fact is that creatine plays a vital role in brain health and functioning. Another point is that endogenous brain synthesis decreases with decreased physical activity and aging. Creatine and GAA both improve levels of total brain creatine. In one study with the elderly, a combination of creatine and GAA increase brain creatine, choline, and NAA levels. Both choline and NAA are essential for neuron health. Therefore, PRIME is ideal for maintaining your brain levels at an optimum. In conclusion, creatine is a very important nutrient for brain health regardless of age.
Balance Your Hormone Levels
There is a correlation between age and a biological decrease in testosterone. This is because serum free and total testosterone levels naturally decline with normal aging, and because lower testosterone levels are also related with disease and debility.26-27 Weakness, lethargy, diminished strength, fragility and shifts in mood are all signs of aging.1 Some aggressive testosterone therapies can be harmful. Also for athletes, these therapies are banned. Theoretically, a testosterone replacement therapy should be all-natural and endogenous, maintaining a physiological concentration of the relevant hormone.
TesnorTM is a unique blend of cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao) and pomegranate peel extract. A newly developed natural testosterone booster has been shown to increase total testosterone levels in men of all ages. Clinical studies have shown that TesnorTM increases testosterone levels in men, improves their mental health, sexual behavior, and muscle mass. Furthermore, its active metabolite can be utilized without risk, as it alleviates symptoms without producing serious side effects.
In addition to TensorTM, there is two more component of PRIME that has the potential to raise testosterone levels.
Studies have shown that boron enhances free testosterone in the body and even improves physical performance. According to one study, boron supplementation increased free testosterone by 14% within six hours!28 The same study showed that boron decreased Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) levels by almost 10%. The SHBG protein binds to testosterone and renders it inactive. Therefore, less SHBG is a great thing. Further research on male bodybuilders showed that a low dose of 2.5mg of boron for under 2 months increased androgen levels by over 60%, improving bench press strength of 1RM.29
Finally, Zinc insufficiency is widespread throughout the world. Zinc deficiency, both severe and moderate, is linked to hypogonadism in men. Six months of zinc supplementation in slightly zinc-deficient normal older individuals boosted blood testosterone and returned it to normal levels.30 Zinc may be important in adjusting serum testosterone levels in healthy males, and in addition with TensorTM and boron will keep testosterone in balance.
We concentrated on some of the advantages of PRIME for older adults, but the same principles apply to everyone. It is not necessary to purchase five supplements in order to increase energy, build muscle, reduce fatigue, and improve hormonal status and immunity. PRIME is an all-in-one solution.
REFERENCE
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- Haff, G. G., & Triplett, N. T. (Eds.). (2015). Essentials of strength training and conditioning 4th edition. Human kinetics.
- Snow, R. J., & Murphy, R. M. (2001). Creatine and the creatine transporter: a review. Molecular and cellular biochemistry, 224(1), 169-181.
- Hunter, G. R., McCarthy, J. P., & Bamman, M. M. (2004). Effects of resistance training on older adults. Sports medicine, 34(5), 329-348.
- Janssen, I. (2010). Evolution of sarcopenia research. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 35(5), 707-712.
- Chilibeck, P. D., Kaviani, M., Candow, D. G., & Zello, G. A. (2017). Effect of creatine supplementation during resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscular strength in older adults: a meta-analysis. Open access journal of sports medicine, 8, 213.
- Candow, D. G., & Chilibeck, P. D. (2005). Differences in size, strength, and power of upper and lower body muscle groups in young and older men. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 60(2), 148-156.
- Seper, V., Korovljev, D., Todorovic, N., Stajer, V., Ostojic, J., Nesic, N., & Ostojic, S. M. (2021). Guanidinoacetate-creatine supplementation improves functional performance and muscle and brain bioenergetics in the elderly: a pilot study. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 77(4), 244-247.
- Rawson, E. S., & Venezia, A. C. (2011). Use of creatine in the elderly and evidence for effects on cognitive function in young and old. Amino acids, 40(5), 1349-1362.
- Wilkinson, D. J., Hossain, T., Hill, D. S., Phillips, B. E., Crossland, H., Williams, J., … & Atherton, P. J. (2013). Effects of leucine and its metabolite β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate on human skeletal muscle protein metabolism. The Journal of physiology, 591(11), 2911-2923.
- Cheng, W., Phillips, B., & Abumrad, N. (1998). Effect of HMB on fuel utilization, membrane stability and creatine kinase content of cultured muscle cells. FASEB Journal, 12(5), A950.
- Rowlands, D. S., & Thomson, J. S. (2009). Effects of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate supplementation during resistance training on strength, body composition, and muscle damage in trained and untrained young men: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(3), 836-846.
- Robinson, E.H., Stout, J.R., Miramonti, A.A., Fukuda, D.H., Wang, R., Townsend, J.R., Mangine, G.T., Fragala, M.S. and Hoffman, J.R. (2014). High-intensity interval training and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric free acid improves aerobic power and metabolic thresholds. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 11(1), 1–11.
- Faramarzi, M., Nuri, R. and Banitalebi, E. (2009). The effect of short-term combination of HMB (beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate) and creatine supplementation on anaerobic performance and muscle injury markers in soccer. Brazilian Journal of Biomotricity, 3(4), 366–375.
- Portal, S., Zadik, Z., Rabinowitz, J., Pilz-Burstein, R., Adler-Portal, D., Meckel, Y., Cooper, D.M., Eliakim, A. and Nemet, D. (2011). The effect of HMB supplementation on body composition, fitness, hormonal and inflammatory mediators in elite adolescent volleyball players: A prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111(9), 2261–2269.
- Fernández-Landa, J., Calleja-González, J., León-Guereño, P., Caballero-García, A., Córdova, A., & Mielgo-Ayuso, J. (2019). Effect of the combination of creatine monohydrate plus HMB supplementation on sports performance, body composition, markers of muscle damage and hormone status: A systematic review. Nutrients, 11(10), 2528.
- Engelen, M. P., & Deutz, N. E. (2018). Is HMB an effective anabolic agent to improve outcome in older diseased populations?. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care, 21(3), 207.
- Walker, J. B. (1979). Creatine: biosynthesis, regulation, and function. Adv Enzymol Relat Areas Mol Biol, 50(177), 2.
- Braissant, O., Bachmann, C., & Henry, H. (2007). Expression and function of AGAT, GAMT and CT1 in the mammalian brain. Creatine and creatine kinase in health and disease, 67-81.
- Laakso, M. P., Hiltunen, Y., Könönen, M., Kivipelto, M., Koivisto, A., Hallikainen, M., & Soininen, H. (2003). Decreased brain creatine levels in elderly apolipoprotein E ε4 carriers. Journal of neural transmission, 110(3), 267-275.
- Solis, M. Y., Artioli, G. G., Otaduy, M. C. G., Leite, C. D. C., Arruda, W., Veiga, R. R., & Gualano, B. (2017). Effect of age, diet, and tissue type on PCr response to creatine supplementation. Journal of Applied Physiology, 123(2), 407-414.
- Rawson, E. S., & Venezia, A. C. (2011). Use of creatine in the elderly and evidence for effects on cognitive function in young and old. Amino acids, 40(5), 1349-1362.
- Dolan, E., Gualano, B., & Rawson, E. S. (2019). Beyond muscle: The effects of creatine supplementation on brain creatine, cognitive processing, and traumatic brain injury. European journal of sport science, 19(1), 1-14.
- Ostojic, S. M., Ostojic, J., Drid, P., & Vranes, M. (2016). Guanidinoacetic acid versus creatine for improved brain and muscle creatine levels: a superiority pilot trial in healthy men. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 41(9), 1005-1007.
- Tachikawa, M., & Hosoya, K. I. (2011). Transport characteristics of guanidino compounds at the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier: relevance to neural disorders. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, 8(1), 1-12.
- Feldman, H. A., Longcope, C., Derby, C. A., Johannes, C. B., Araujo, A. B., Coviello, A. D., … & McKinlay, J. B. (2002). Age trends in the level of serum testosterone and other hormones in middle-aged men: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 87(2), 589-598.
- Harman, S. M., Metter, E. J., Tobin, J. D., Pearson, J., & Blackman, M. R. (2001). Longitudinal effects of aging on serum total and free testosterone levels in healthy men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 86(2), 724-731.
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Prasad, A. S., Mantzoros, C. S., Beck, F. W., Hess, J. W., & Brewer, G. J. (1996). Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition, 12(5), 344-348.