5 key anti-aging ingredients under the "new longevity" trend

According to a consumer trends report from The New Consumer and Coefficient Capital, more American consumers not only want to live longer, they want to live healthier.

A 2024 McKinsey survey shows that 70% of US and UK consumers (and 85% of Chinese consumers) have purchased more products and services that support healthy aging and longevity in the past year (compared to previous years) Compared with ), consumers have greater control over their health.

These data show that consumers’ views on aging are changing.

Age-Related Health Issues of Consumer Concern

NBJ conducted a survey of supplement users in 2024. Regarding aging, consumers' top concerns are: loss of mobility(28%), Alzheimer's disease or dementia(23%), vision loss( 23%), loss of independence(19%), emotional or mental health issues(19%), muscle/bone loss(19%), hair loss(16%), insomnia(16%), etc.

Source: NBJ

Additionally, immunity(35%) is the top age-related health concern consumers want to address when using supplements. Gut and digestive health(28%), sleep health(23%), hair, skin and nails(22%), muscle and joint health(21%), heart health(19%) and emotional health(19%), etc. It is also a health issue that consumers need to address.

Source: NBJ
 

3 Key Anti-Aging Ingredients

1. Pyrroquinoline quinone (PQQ)

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) is an aromatic water-soluble quinone, first reported by Hauge et al. in 1964. It is another coenzyme of glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), different from flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH).

PQQ is a new type of biological factor that participates in controlling the redox process in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, neutralizes superoxide and hydroxyl radicals that cause mitochondrial dysfunction, and can antagonize cell damage caused by various types of oxidative stress. These include reoxygenation cardiac injury, chronic heart failure, ethanol-induced liver injury, and hyperoxia-induced cognitive deficits.PQQ not only protects mitochondria from oxidative stress, but also promotes mitochondrial biogenesis. PQQ stimulates cells by increasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) and activating the transcription network. Growth of new mitochondria.

PQQ can effectively prevent neurodegeneration caused by oxidative stress. In addition, PQQ can enhance the production of nerve growth factor (NGF). In rodent models of stroke and brain injury, PQQ was able to protect against neurocognitive loss. In human clinical trials, PQQ promoted cognitive function and improved regional blood flow in older adults.

2. Phosphatidylserine (PS)

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a type of anionic phospholipid in eukaryotic biological membranes, accounting for 5-10% of the total cell lipids. PS consists of a glycerol backbone that is esterified on the sn-1 and sn-2 carbon atoms of the glycerol moiety by two fatty acyl chains with different lengths and degrees of saturation, and has a phosphate bond at the sn-3 position. Compared with phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a notable feature of PS is that serine is covalently linked to phosphate, which makes the PS head group have a net negative charge.

Under normal circumstances, PS is located in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane, the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus, mitochondria and endosomes, maintaining the normal functions of organelles. Traditional PS supplements come from bovine brains. Due to the potential spread of infectious diseases, soy-derived PS has gradually become a mainstream product in the world market. In 2009, Israel's Enzymotec developed PS derived from deep-sea fish. In 2010, the company developed PS derived from krill, and PS derived from marine organisms began to enter the market. In 2015, Enzymotec developed PS derived from sunflowers.

PS is mainly located in the inner layer of the cell membrane, can bind to various proteins and participate in many biological processes, including enzyme activation, apoptosis, neurotransmission and synaptic refinement. It modulates the activity of receptors, enzymes, ion channels and signaling molecules, and is involved in regulating membrane fluidity. PS is considered one of the most important brain nutrients and is beneficial to multiple neurotransmitter systems such as acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Metabolic dysregulation of PS is associated with different central nervous system diseases, including Alzheimer's disease(AD), Parkinson's disease(PD), major depressive disorder(MDD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), and autism Spectrum Disorders(ASD).

3. Lipoic acid

Lipoic acid, also known as ɑ-lipoic acid, is a powerful antioxidant naturally occurring in cells. It has good fat solubility and water solubility, so it can be quickly absorbed and utilized by cells. Lipoic acid can be converted into dihydrolipoic acid in the body. Research shows that lipoic acid and dihydrolipoic acid can directly remove reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, chelate metal ions, and regenerate other endogenous antioxidants, such as glutathione. , vitamin C, and vitamin E, which exert antioxidant effects by repairing oxidative damage. It is precisely because of the recycling and regeneration effect of lipoic acid that some health brands call it the "reducing agent of reducing agents."

Although lipoic acid and NAD+ are both mitochondrial enzymes, they have different mechanisms of action from NAD+ molecules. Lipoic acid is an important "cofactor" for enzymatic reactions in mitochondria, contributing to cellular energy metabolism in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In addition, it can also Prevents the release of mutagenic oxidants and specifically delays mitochondrial aging.

Lipoic acid is known as the "natural universal antioxidant" and is widely used at home and abroad, involving many fields such as medicine, health products, and cosmetics. In European and American countries, lipoic acid has been used in dietary supplements for a long time, but in my country it is mainly used in medicines. It is mainly used to remove free radicals in the body, prevent lipid peroxidation, adjust sugar metabolism, etc. The dietary supplement α-lipoic acid capsules launched by the American health brand for becarde one can help reduce coenzyme Q10, glutathione, vitamin E and vitamin C.