Marlene Prendeville met Dr Richard Passwater Ph.D. Director, Selenium Nutritional Research Center at the A4M Winter 2014 expo and conference in Las Vegas and requested his thoughts on Pycnogenol and Selenium.
Dr Passwater said: “ First, I wish to confirm that I am in full agreement with the remarks submitted by Carolina Burki-Sozzi below. Second, I wish to make clear that I have never been affiliated with Horphag Research.
My research and writings are and have been independent of Horphag Research. I am the Director of Research at the Selenium Nutritional Research center in Berlin, MD. I have written five books on selenium and six books on Pycnogenol.”.
Below are some of Marlene Prendeville’s questions and Dr Passwater’s responses:
What are Dr. Richard Passwater’s views/recommendations on Pycnogenol and Selenium and their contribution towards the aging process?
“Selenium is a dietary essential nutrient involved in many health and anti-aging mechanisms in the body primarily because it is an essential component of several selenoprotein enzymes that help protect against several major deleterious reactions and diseases of the aging process.
Pycnogenol is a specific and patented mixture of nutrients consisting largely of the Bioflavonoid family and its derivatives and oligomers. These nutrients can influence the expression of genes and influence fundamental aspects of cellular function. Thus, Pycnogenol can “turn on” and “turn off” specific genes in such a way as to determine our health and aging.”
Dr. Carolina Burki-Sozzi has cited specific studies indicating how Pycnogenol contributes to healthy aging of several body systems. I will discuss just one example of how Pycnogenol supports a healthy cardiovascular system because covering more systems would require a book. Incidentally, my latest book, co-authored with Professor Peter Rohdewald, has just been printed. (The Pycnogenol Phenomenon” Ponte Press Verlags-GmbH, Bochum, Germany)
Dr Passwater claims Pycnogenol has several modes of action in protection against cardiovascular disease. Pycnogenol helps prevent the blood clots that form in narrowed arteries that cause heart attacks and strokes. It does this by normalizing blood platelet activation by blocking the production of excess thromboxane. This keeps the blood slippery and free of blood clots.
He says: Pycnogenol also reduces chronic inflammation and LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol), while increasing HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol). Pycnogenol helps regulate the inflammation master switch, NF-. B. The less inflammation, the less risk of atherosclerosis (narrowed arteries due to deposits).
Another important mode of action of Pycnogenol is the protection of the lining (endothelium) of the artery walls. Pycnogenol acts as a catalyst for the enzyme that produces nitric oxide in the artery walls. This keeps the arteries open and flexible, better able to prevent deposits and normalize blood pressure.
Pycnogenol helps prevent damage to blood vessels caused by free radicals and other reactive species including elevated blood sugar. This means less damage to the heart, arteries, nerves and all organ systems. It is not the passage of time alone that causes aging. It is the damage that occurs to organs caused by oxidation, radicals and sugar that ages organ systems.
Should older women and men in their 70s take the above two products on a regular basis to stave off and protect against Colon Cancer and other diseases?
“For optimal health, all persons should take optimal amounts of selenium and Pycnogenol. The sooner one optimizes his or her diet, the longer the protection will be in place. The non-germ diseases associated with aging usually develop over decades. These diseases include most cancers, heart disease, dementia, arthritis, and many, many more.”.
Does Dr. Passwater recommend any products for Memory and Brain Focus which women and men in their 70s could take as part of their everyday diet as they approach aging?
Several nutrients have been shown to improve memory and focus associated with aging. Important, but not limited to, are EPA and DHA (as from fish oil for example), phosphatidylserine, Pycnogenol and Selenium.
I myself and many of my readers would like to try out Pycnogenol and Selenium for prevention of Colon Cancer – please let me know how I will be able to obtain these two products and also the Memory and Brain Focus in 3. above.
Dr Passwater replied: “Early epidemiological studies suggested that selenium greatly reduced the risk of colon cancer in those not adequately nourished with selenium. A recent clinical trial with men already receiving adequate intakes of selenium found no difference when additional selenium was taken. This trial does not support the earlier findings. At this time, vitamin D and calcium appear to be the best nutrients to protect against colon cancer.
More studies are needed, but in the meantime, it seems prudent to optimize vitamin D, calcium and antioxidant nutrient intakes.
Marlene Prendeville is a member of the International Federation of Journalist. Her articles are published and syndicated worldwide.
By Marlene Prendeville
