Lipogen presents a new ingredient for mental & psychological stress control.
"Lipogen PAS" is a patented vegetarian
complex of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidylserine(PS)
clinically proven. According to published clinical research,
this all-naturalsupplement can improve the ability to function
under long-term mental and psychological stress conditions.
In the study, published in The International Journal on the
Biology of Stress, Lipogen PAS, when tested in a placebo
controlled clinical trial showed significant benefits in
controlling the hormonal reaction to mental and psychological
stress. The study, conducted with Prof. D. Hellhammer of the
Department for Psychobiology, University of Trier, Germany
showed that daily treatment with 400 mg PAS complex
resulted in a pronounced blunting of stress hormones
(specifically cortisol and ACTH) responses to the TSST (Trier
Social Stress Test). During the stress-test conditions, the
placebo group showed the expected increase in stress
hormones levels, while the group treated with PAS showed
significantly lower stress levels and a better control of the
situation. The reduction of stress-related cortisol levels, plus
the improved functioning in the group treated with PAS
indicate that people with strenuous lifestyle could benefit from
daily use of PAS complex. It is further considered that PAS
may improve the body functioning under long term stress
conditions, without affecting our alertness or ability to act.
PA (Phosphatidic acid) and PS (Phosphatidylserine) are
natural phospholipids found in the membrane of the cells in
the brain. PA (Phosphatidic acid) is instrumental in the control
of the fluidity of the membranes. PS (phosphatidylserine) is
considered as an important building block of the brain cells
membranes and has been shown to have a role in slowing or
even reversing some forms of age-related cognitive
deteriorations - such as short-term memory and the capacity
to learn new tasks.
STRESS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF EXCESSIVELY HIGH CORTISOL VALUES
Cortisol is a hormone which is produced in the body in the
adrenal cortex (small glands adjacent to the kidneys). Cortisol
plays a role in many processes in the body, including in the
digestion of food, the immune system and the sleeping-waking
rhythm. The secretion of cortisol by the adrenal cortex is
increased, for example, also as a reaction to various forms of
stress. This can be physical stress, such as illness, injury or
extreme temperatures, but it can also be psychological stress
(for example, stress at work or verbal violence), which
increases the concentration of cortisol.
The secretion of cortisol is regulated by glands in the brain.
The hypothalamus sends the chemical CRF (Corticotropic
Releasing Factor) to the pituitary gland. As a reaction to this,
ACTH (the Adreno-Cortico-Tropic-Hormone) is released in the
pituitary gland, which in turn stimulates the secretion of
cortisol in the adrenal cortex.
Due to the presence of cortisol in the body, proteins are broken down in the muscles, by which action energy (in the
form of glucose) is created. The body can then use this
energy in order to deal with physical or mental stress. If
there is too much cortisol in the body, in normal
circumstances the brain receives a signal about it, and less
CRF and ACTH, and thus less cortisol, are produced. Long-
lasting high cortisol levels lead to brain damage, due to which
permanent memory and concentration problems and mood
disorders can appear. Researchers already knew that people
produce more cortisol if their life circumstances are poor and
if they think they do not have any control over their lives.
Consequently they are ill more often, have a higher blood
pressure and have a greater chance of cardiovascular
disease and cancer [3].
What is damaging about chronic stress is that the energy-
consuming adrenaline system is chronically slowed down due
to a permanently heightened cortisol level. This could cause
great damage to the body. In particular the hippocampusothe
part of the brain which plays an important role in stressois
sensitive to cortisol. The hippocampus is part of the limbic
system and plays a role in remembering situations of stress.
In addition, the hippocampus ensures that just the right
amount of cortisol hormone is produced in the body. This
occurs via the so-called feedback mechanism. As soon as
cortisol reaches the hippocampus, a signal goes to the
adrenal glands that production can be ceased. If this
feedback mechanism must continually come into action, it
becomes insensitive to the signals. Consequently the cortisol
content of the blood will become too high or, on the contrary,
too low. From that moment onwards, temporary or permanent health problems can appear due to stress and the excessive
cortisol values associated with it.
LIPOGEN PAS CLINICAL DATA
A clinical study [4] was carried out to demonstrate that
Lipogen PAS, in the correct dosage, ensure lower cortisol
values. The entire study lasted four weeks. First eighty
volunteer test subjects had the condition of their health
thoroughly tested. None of the participants were to be on
medication, smoke or be particularly sensitive to stress.
The test subjects were subsequently subdivided into four
groups. The first group wouldowithout knowing itotake
placebos, a second group received 400 milligrams of
phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (PAS) per
day, a third group took 600 milligrams of PAS per 24-hour
period and a fourth group used 800 milligrams of PAS.
Three weeks before the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), all
participants received the assignment of taking the PAS
capsules or placebo daily. On the testing day, all test
subjects first had to rest in the laboratory building for 90
minutes. During this time a catheter was inserted in the
forearm in order to be able to take blood samples regularly
before and after the stress test. The first rest period of ninety
minutes was necessary also in order to exclude any possible
activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-adrenal
cortex system (HPA). At the end of this rest period the first
blood and saliva samples were taken. After this the actual
stress test followed, which lasted 15 minutes.
The stress test itself was as follows: Each participant had to
take a seat behind a microphone. Before him/her was an
examining board of behavioral psychologists who gave the
task of giving a speech which was to last five minutes. The
participants were to act as if they were applying for an
available position. Everyone received only three minutes to
prepare his/her text. The participants were also informed of
the fact that the conversation would be recorded on video and
audiotape. After the speech there immediately followed a
second task of five minutes, which involved counting
backwards from 2083 to 0 as fast as possible. Each time the number 17 had to be subtracted from the new amount.
Afterwards the participants were required to rest for one hour
in the building. Blood and saliva samples were taken at one
minute, ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes, forty-five
minutes and one hour following the stress test.
From the results it appeared that the test subjects who had
taken 400 milligrams of PAS demonstrated a distinct reduction in the HPA reaction vis-y-vis the psychological stress caused. The 400 milligram group saw their ACTH rise from 0 to 20 pg per millilitre of blood. The 600 and 800 milligram group displayed an ACTH increase up to 30 pg per millilitre of blood,
and the placebo group recorded an ACTH increase up to 50
pg per millilitre of blood.
The cortisol values rose up to a maximum of 40 ng/ml in the
400 milligram group, and up to 70 ng/ml in the 600 and 800
milligram group. The same values were recorded in the
people who had used a placebo. Barely 45 minutes after the
test, the cortisol value in the 400 milligram group had dropped
to 0. The other three groups still displayed cortisol values
which fluctuated between 35 and 40 ng/ml.
These research data demonstrate for the first time that 400 milligrams of PAS per 24-hour period can have a cortisol-inhibiting effect on the HPA. The higher PAS doses had insufficient effect. The researchers emphasise that PAS does not eliminate the stress but merely tones it down. PAS also does not appear to interfere with the proper functioning of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-adrenal cortex system (HPA). According to the results of this study, the test subjects who took 400 milligrams of PAS every 24 hours appear to adapt more quickly, and in a healthier way, to a new stress factor. The lower ACTH and cortisol values may be attributable to this.
These results are promising. They can give occasion for
clinical applications in the treatment of stress-related
syndromes. Not one of the participants suffered from any
side effect during the entire duration of this study [4].
POSTSCRIPT
* Phosphatidic acid was described by Munnik in 2001 as an important signal molecule in plants and animals. In plants, phosphatidic acid is involved in various conditions signalling stress such as dryness, injuries and in the appearance of pathogenic infections. It is formed as a reaction to the stress hormone ethylene and the plant hormone ABA (abscisic acid). In plants, phosphatidic acid is produced ten minutes after a stress reaction which is caused by osmotic, oxidative, pathogenic or hormonal stress.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
(1). Lee, Y.N., H.Y. Lee, H.K. Kang, et al., Phosphatidic acid positively regulates LPS-induced differentiation of RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line into dendritic-like cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2004.318(4): p. 839-45.
(2).Benton, D., R.T. Donohoe, B. Sillance, et al., The influence of phosphatidylserine supplementation on mood and heart rate when faced with an acute stressor. Nutr Neurosci, 2001. 4(3): p. 169-78.
(3).Talbot, P.S., The molecular neuroimaging of anxiety disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep, 2004. 6(4): p. 274-9.
(4). Hellhammer, J., E. Fries, C. Buss, et al., Effects of soy lecithin phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine complex (PAS) on the endocrine and psychological responses to mental stress. Stress, 2004. 7(2): p. 119-26.