SoLongevity research has recently developed a new nutritional supplement of essential amino acidsAmino acids are the basic substances that make up proteins. Each protein is characterized by a precise sequence of amino acid "bricks". Some are produced by the body by processing food, others, which the body cannot synthesize, must be taken directly with food.: AminoAge Plus. An innovative formulation, born from a collaboration with Alessandro Orlandini, physician-formulator and Italy’s foremost recognized expert in the field of amino acid nutrition. We interviewed him to clarify when amino acid supplementation is indicated, and what the distinctive features of AminoAge Plus are.
Dr. Orlandini, what are essential amino acid supplements and what are they for?
“Let us first clarify one concept: the amino acids used by humans to build proteins, which are necessary for life itself, number 20. Of these, 9 cannot be produced by the body, but must be obtained through diet, and for this reason they are called essential, indicated by the abbreviation EAA, from Essential Amino Acid. They are phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, lysine, histidine, leucine, isoleucine and valine; the last three are called branched-chain because of their chemical structure. Mixtures of essential amino acids have been studied in Italy too for more than 30 years, especially for the supplementation of people with particular conditions: frail patients, athletes, women in menopause. The indications are very numerous. And interest in the clinical and preventive field is growing: a quick search on PubMed is enough to find more than 15,000 published studies, increasing at a rate of more than 700 a year.”
What are the features of AminoAge Plus?
“In addition to providing the 9 essential amino acids in an amount of 6.5 grams, one of the distinctive features of AminoAge Plus is that it contains 3 ‘boosters’ to support energy metabolism, that is, 3 activators that make the use of the amino acids themselves more efficient and, consequently, the building of new proteins in anabolic processes. These 3 molecules are the initial components of the Krebs cycle, which is activated inside every cell to produce energy: pyruvic acid (or pyruvate), citric acid and α-ketoglutaric acid. The first steps of the cycle are fundamental for driving energy production and are regulated precisely by these 3 tricarboxylic acids: in particular, the inclusion of pyruvate — which is the starter — is a real novelty and a plus compared with the essential amino acid supplements normally found on the market. In addition, we observed that the presence of citric acid — which is usually used as an acidity regulator — makes a big difference for protein synthesis pathways.”
In general, what advantages does an amino acid supplement offer compared with a protein supplement?
“It is well known that, with advancing age, the gut’s ability to absorb animal and plant proteins physiologically declines. While when we are young we can make do with 0.9 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, over the age of 60 national and international nutrition tables recommend an intake of 1.2-1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Not because the requirement increases, but because less is absorbed. Taking essential amino acids directly offers an enormous advantage: the ‘building blocks’ of proteins are already free and pass much more easily from the gut to the cells, where they can be used.”
Who is AminoAge Plus designed for?
“It is a SoLongevity product, consistent with the philosophy that inspires all of the company’s research, namely to respond to the needs of the population, especially those over 40, who want to stay healthy or regain health, and stay active at every age, both physically and cognitively. It is certainly useful for those who do sports and want to improve their performance, but considering only this aspect is reductive. To begin with, it has been shown that supplementation with essential amino acids improves dysbiosis, that is, the composition of the gut microbiota, with an action that counteracts inflammaging"Chronic low-grade inflammation" or inflammaging, such as a state of low intensity but constant organic inflammation (associated with an increase in some proteins, the inflammatory cytokines) that causes damage to the body. and aging of the gut, in turn improving protein synthesis. Secondly, it counteracts sarcopeniaThe term sarcopenia refers to the progressive loss of muscle mass and related decrease in strength; in addition to the volume reduction in muscle mass, it also leads to a worsening of the latter because:
• the muscle is slowly replaced by adipose tissue (fat),
• the junctions between muscle and nerve fibres (neuromuscular junction) tend to degenerate,
• muscle oxidative stress increases.
and is indicated in all situations in which people follow diets or experience weight loss. It must be considered, in fact, that about 50% of the weight lost when going on a diet — with or without the help of drugs — is lean mass, that is, muscle. Those who practice intermittent fasting should also complement the fasting hours with doses of essential amino acids, which make it possible to buffer the effects of catabolism. Taking essential amino acids in all these cases helps reduce the loss of lean mass and increase that of fat mass. Furthermore, AminoAge Plus is certainly indicated during hospital stays and periods of bed rest, considering that in just 15 days up to 15% of muscle can be lost. Last but not least, it counteracts dysfunction of the mitochondria, the metabolic power plants of cells, where proteins are broken down to produce energy (ATPAdenosine triphosphate (ATP) can be defined as the "energy currency" of the cell, the instrument through which the cell carries out processes that require energy (endoergonic) and is produced by reactions that release energy (exergonic).).”
Why is it particularly suitable for women in menopause?
“This is another interesting aspect: we are the first to also use in the formulation calcium in a bioavailable form, calcium pyruvate, which makes it much more absorbable than the inorganic form. As is well known, in fact, during menopause the lack of estrogen causes a tissue acidosis that must be corrected, and that promotes the loss of bicarbonates and calcium, above all from the long bones. This leads to a trabecular thinning that can result in fractures.”
How does it act on the neurocognitive front?
“Essential amino acids play a crucial role in maintaining neuronal health and preventing neuronal damage. For example, phenylalanine and tryptophan are involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. In addition, lysine and methionine are involved in the production of antioxidant substances such as glutathione, while lecithin and carnitine protect neurons from oxidative damage. Several studies suggest an improvement in cognitive performance, and a recent analysis correlated serum levels of isoleucine, leucine and valine with a lower risk of dementia. Finally, there is a rationale for thinking that AminoAge could also help counteract Long COVID syndrome.”
