Anti-Alcohol Antioxidants - Life Extension

Life Extension's Anti-Alcohol Antioxidants with HepatoProtection Complex is an improved formula containing additional antioxidants designed to suppress free radicals, neutralize toxic alcohol metabolites and protect against liver toxicity and hepatic injury commonly associated with alcohol consumption.

Consuming alcoholic beverages results in the generation of free radicals. People who drink a lot of alcohol often suffer a hangover because of massive free radical-induced cellular damage.

Alcohol-induced free radical assault can wreak short-term havoc throughout the body, and these same damaging free radicals are associated with accelerated aging.

Astronomical cost of hangovers

A landmark study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine detailed the enormous economic costs of lost productivity attributable to hangovers: "In the United States, related absenteeism and poor job performance cost $148 billion annually (average annual cost per working adult, $2,000)."1

Protecting against alcohol toxicity

A study published in the journal Alcohol demonstrated how antioxidants help to maintain a healthy brain.2 Another study in the journal Artery confirmed a specific toxic metabolite of alcohol (acetaldehyde) and identified an antidote (N-acetyl-cysteine): "All known pathways of ethanol metabolism result in the production of acetaldehyde, a highly reactive compound. N-acetyl-cysteine, an analogue of the dietary amino acid cysteine, binds acetaldehyde, thus preventing its damaging effect on physiological proteins."3

These findings are not surprising, considering that the consumption of alcohol inflicts massive free radical damage throughout the body. When people are exposed to a known toxic substance such as alcohol, it makes perfect sense to take a proven antidote-namely, antioxidants.

Life Extension's Anti-Alcohol Antioxidants with HepatoProtection Complex is an improved formula containing additional antioxidants designed to suppress free radicals, neutralize toxic alcohol metabolites such as acetaldehyde,4-7 and protect against liver toxicity and hepatic injury commonly associated with alcohol consumption. In addition to vitamin B1, vitamin C, N-acetyl-cysteine and benfotiamine, this new formula's HepatoProtection Complex provides potent doses of these novel antioxidants:

• Chlorophyllin, an antimutagenic agent that protects the body from oxidative stress than can stimulate cellular mutation.
• Leucoselect grapeseed extract, silymarin (from milk thistle), and resveratrol, three hepatoprotective agents that aid in reducing mutagenic compounds from potentially toxic xenobiotics and protecting cells from free radial-induced oxidative stress.
• Picroliv Picrorhiza kurroa root extract, containing antioxidant kutkins that scavenge alcohol-induced excess free radicals, guard against alcohol-induced damage to cells by lipid peroxidation, and stimulate regeneration of cells (hepatocytes).
• Barley grass juice 24:1 extract, which enhances the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, thus inhibiting the formation of acetaldehyde malondialdehyde.

Dosage and Use

Take one capsule with each alcoholic beverage.

A maximum of six capsules per day.

If no capsules are taken with alcoholic beverages, take six capsules at bedtime.

6 capsules contain:

·    Other ingredients: gelatin, magnesium stearate, rice flour. This product contains NO wheat, yeast, gluten, corn, dairy. Contains NO sugar, artificial color, sweetener, flavors or preservatives.

Leucoselect is a registered trademark of Indena USA. U.S. Reg No. 2294439.
Picroliv is a registered trademark of Sabinsa Corp.

Caution: This product does not prevent, reduce or modify any of the mental impairment effects that alcohol induces. Consuming alcohol and taking this product will not allow a person to safely operate a vehicle or any other equipment. Do not drink and attempt to drive.

References

1.   Wiese JG, Shipak MG, Browner WS. The alcohol hangover. Ann Intern Med. 2000 Jun 6132(11):897-902.

2.   Altura BM, Altura BT. Association of alcohol in brain injury, headaches and stroke with brain-tissue and serum levels of ionized magnesium: a review of recent findings and mechanisms of action. Alcohol. 1999 Oct;19(2):199-30.

3.   Vasev S, Mian T, Longerich L, et al. N-acetyl-cysteine attenuates ethanol induced hypertension in rats. Artery. 1995; 21(6):312-6.

4.   Wickramasinghe SN, Hasan R. In vivo effects of vitamin C on the cytotoxicity of post-ethanol serum. Biochem Pharmacol. 1994 Aug 3;48(3):621-4.

5.   Mitchell JJ, Paiva M, Heaton MB. The antioxidants vitamin E and beta-carotene protect against ethanol-induced neurotoxicity in embryonic rat hippocampal cultures. Alcohol. 1999 Feb; 17(2):163-8.

6.   Shman'ko, W. The selenium content of the body in experimental animals and its effect on the functional biochemical status of the liver in toxic injury. Fiziol Zh. 1996; 42(12):65-72.

7.   Agar E, Boznak M, Amanvermez R, et al. The effect of ethanol on lipid peroxidation and gluathione level in the brain stem of rat. Neuroreport. 1999 Jan 3;10(8):1799-801.