A Natural Product Telomerase Activator as Part of a Health Maintenance Program: Metabolic and Cardiovascular Response

A short average telomere length is associated with low telomerase activity and certain degenerative diseases. Studies in animals and with human cells confirm a causal mechanism for cell or tissue dysfunction triggered by critically short telomeres, suggesting that telomerase activation may be an approach to health maintenance. Previously, we reported on positive immune remodeling in humans taking a commercial health maintenance program, PattonProtocol-1, composed of TA-65 (R) (a natural product-derived telomerase activator) and other dietary supplements. In over a 5-year period and an estimated 7000 person-years of use, no adverse events or effects have been attributed to TA-65 by physicians licensed to sell the product. Here we report on changes in metabolic markers measured at baseline (n = 97-107 subjects) and every 3-6 months (n = 27-59 subjects) during the first 12 months of study. Rates of change per year from baseline determined by a multi-level model were -3.72mg/dL for fasting glucose (p = 0.02), -1.32 mIU/mL for insulin (p = 0.01), -13.2 and -11.8 mg/dL for total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p = 0.002, p = 0.002, respectively), -17.3 and -4.2mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.007 and 0.001, respectively), and -3.6 mu mole/L homocysteine (p = 0.001). In a subset of individuals with bone mineral density (BMD) measured at baseline and 12 months, density increased 2.0% in the spine (p = 0.003). We conclude that in addition to apparent positive immune remodeling, PattonProtocol-1 may improve markers of metabolic, bone, and cardiovascular health.