Supplements and Drugs for Healthy Longevity

This book critically examines the science behind aging-modulatory and geroprotector compounds, addressing the growing demand for health-promoting and lifespan-extending supplements. With over 250 compounds listed in various databases, the need for clear, evidence-based guidance is more pressing than ever. This volume fills that gap by evaluating the current state of scientific knowledge on widely used natural and synthetic compounds, biological extracts, and traditional dietary formulations from diverse cultures. Key topics include the evaluation of micronutrients, vitamins, and probiotics as dietary supplements, the role of plant-based compounds in traditional medicinal systems like Ayurveda and TCM, and the distinction between drugs against diseases and those for health. The book also explores synthetic and natural compounds targeting specific biochemical pathways, emphasizing a shift from disease-specific therapies to holistic approaches in longevity medicine. Ideal for biogerontological and medical researchers, healthcare professionals, and students in health-related fields, this book offers a comprehensive review of the latest research and practical insights into supplements and drugs for healthy longevity. It invites readers to consider critical questions about the efficacy and necessity of these compounds in promoting a long and healthy life.

Suresh I. S. Rattan PhD, DSc, is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. His research areas and expertise include ageing of human cells and application of the concept of mild stress-induced hormesis as a modulator of ageing. He is the recipient of the Lord Cohen Medal in Gerontology from the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA). He is the editor-in-chief of the journal Biogerontology, and the editor for the book series Healthy Ageing and Longevity. He is the present Chairman of the Biological Section of the European Region of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG-ER). Ceren Gezer PhD is Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, Cyprus. She received her MSc and PhD degrees from the Nutrition and Dietetics Program, Institute of Health Sciences, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus. During October 2013 to March 2014 she was a visiting PhD researcher in the Laboratory of Cellular Ageing, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark, under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Suresh Rattan. She has supervised more than 25 MSc and PhD theses and has published several research and review articles, and book chapters on Nutrition and Dietetics.

Part I: Dietary supplements.- Chapter 1: Vita-amines, ‘molecules for life’: do they live up to their name?.- Chapter 2: Micronutrients and nutraceuticals for health and longevity.- Chapter 3: Pro-, post- and pre-biotics for health and longevity.- Chapter 4: Hormonal supplements for health and longevity.- Chapter 5: NAD+ and its precursors for health and longevity.- Chapter 6: CoQ10 supplementation for healthy longevity.- Chapter 7: Iodine for health and longevity. Part II: Phytochemicals, extracts, and dietary traditions.- Chapter 8: Tinospora cordifolia for health and longevity.- Chapter 9: Neuronutrition: Evaluating the Efficacy of Natural Compounds in Neurodiversity for Brain Health.- Chapter 10: Ayurvedic Supplements for Healthy Brain and Longevity.- Chapter 11: Natural Healthy-Aging Agents: Wisdom from Traditional Chinese Medicine.- Chapter 12: African-medicinal formulations for health and longevity.- Chapter 13: Greek Medicinal Phytochemicals with Anti-Ageing Properties.- Chapter 14: Mediterranean-diet based supplements for healthy longevity.- Chapter 15: Geroprotective effects of plant-extracts.- Part III: Drugs for health and longevity.- Chapter 16: Metformin as a senotherapeutic agent.- Chapter 17: Effects of procaine, Gerovital H3, on some chronic conditions often encountered in older people.- Chapter 18: Medicinal peptide drugs and Khavinson Peptides.- Chapter 19: Calorie-restriction mimetics as drugs for healthy longevity.- Chapter 20: Dasatinib and quercetin synolytics for health and longevity.- Chapter 21: Carotenoids for healthy longevity.- Chapter 22: Curcumin and resveratrol for healthy longevity.- Chapter 23: Hormesis and hormetins as drugs for health and longevity.- Part IV: Conclusion.- Chapter 24: Supplements and Drugs for Health and Longevity: Recommendations, Conclusions and Challenges.