by Laura Sanchez, Nutrition Coordinated Program Student
Since modern medicine (around the 1800s), stopping the aging process has been part of human culture. However, anti-aging aspirations and efforts are peaking today. According to Markets Insider, the anti-aging products market projection will reach USD 51.5 billion by 2025.
A study published in Rejuvenation Research looked at a natural supplement that could potentially slow down the aging of cells. This supplement, telomerase activator 65 or TA-65, is under the spotlight due to its ability to maintain telomeres’ length. But what are telomeres? You may wonder; telomeres are structures made from DNA sequences and proteins found at the ends of chromosomes (remember those rotor blade-looking things carrying DNA in the nucleus of a cell?). Think of telomeres as the plastic cap at the end of a shoelace that prevents the fibers from unraveling; telomeres protect DNA from damage and are required for cell division. With time, stress, and each cell replication, the telomeres get shorter and shorter until they’re so short that cells can no longer divide, resulting in the aging of tissues. However, telomeres can be rebuilt by an enzyme called telomerase to restore cell division.
TA-65 was discovered as an activator of telomerase in 2000 from observing experiments of natural product extracts in traditional Chinese medicine. However, in 2002, T.A. Sciences secured exclusive rights of TA-65, and after five years of development and safety testing, the first capsules were introduced in the market. The discovery of TA-65 is of significant interest for researchers as there is abundant evidence in its potential to lengthen telomeres by activating the enzyme telomerase and, in some cases, restore tissue and organ function.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the evidence.
Researchers in the previously mentioned study provided TA-65 and followed the outcomes of ninety-seven participants randomly split into the placebo, low-dose (250 unit), and high-dose (1000 unit) groups. The study took place in Barcelona, Spain, and involved 104-day cycles where participants took the supplement or placebo for 90 days followed by 14 days of rest. This study was run for one year; the subjects were cytomegalovirus-positive and between 53 and 87 years old. Cytomegalovirus infects most of the population worldwide asymptomatically, and the study investigated whether TA-65 could alleviate telomere attrition in these participants. Telomeres were measured at baseline and after one year to assess any changes in length.
What did they learn?
Participants taking the low-dose supplement (250 U) increased telomere length significantly over the one year compared to participants in the placebo group who lost telomere length considerably. Although the high dose (1000 U) group showed improvement over the placebo group, the results didn’t reach statistical significance. The latter poses the possibility of TA-65 having a bell-shaped dose-response curve, where too little or too much has no significant effect on telomere length. However, the findings suggest that TA-65 can increase telomere length significantly.
Should I run to the store and start supplementing with TA-65?
Not so fast, readers! There is no such a thing as easy and quick fixes. Before buying this supplement that makes human cells “immortal,” make sure it’s within your budget. Bottles of 30 100-unit capsules and 90 250-unit capsules cost $100 and $600, respectively. Also, know that there are other ways to lengthen telomeres. According to a small pilot study by the University of California San Francisco, diet, exercise, stress management, and increased social support can result in longer telomeres. Make small, steady changes to your lifestyle first, and once you’ve made good long-lasting habits, you may or not supplement with TA-65 if it's within your budget.