Vitalize: Dietary Supplements & Healthspan, What Science Says

This book provides information related to recent clinical research on micronutrients in extending healthy aging, or healthspan. When people get old into their golden years, they face greater risk of having age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. These different diseases can gradually progress into more severe outcomes, which affect the quality of life. They often result in great suffering as well as loss of dignity and independence. On the other hand, a variety of dietary supplements, such as vitamins and minerals, have been known for decades to have essential biological functions, such as involvement in metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrate, lipids, and amino acids, in energy generation, and in antioxidation. Additionally, interesting reports from a lot of preclinical studies using animals and cells have suggested the potentials of dietary supplements in prevention and treatments of age-related diseases. Although recent clinical studies on dietary supplements were quite encouraging, there have been many mixed results during the past. In current book, the author describes the progress in recent clinical research and focuses on those with relatively consistent results. The clinical findings highlighted are further supported by preclinical investigations. The book will shed light on clinical evidence of these dietary supplements in fighting against age-related diseases and in prolonging healthspan.