Plasmalogens are part of a large family of phospholipids that make up cell membranes. They play general structural, anti-oxidant and signaling roles but can also be adapted to tissue specific functions.
Ingestion of plasmalogen supplement by participants with dementia improved non-motor symptoms and increased blood DHA-plasmalogen levels in a dose-dependent manner. These positive effects were accompanied by increased oxidative stress biomarkers.
Inflammation
Plasmalogens are lipid mediators with a unique structure, containing an enyl-ether linkage that is highly susceptible to ROS oxidation. In vivo studies suggest that plasmalogen deficiency is associated with a number of pathologies. Administration of purified plasmalogens or their precursors can restore plasmalogen levels and prevent tissue damage caused by inflammation.
Moreover, plasmalogens are also anti-inflammatory mediators and have been shown to reduce the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Furthermore, plasmalogens have been shown to inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt and to enhance PI3K activity thereby reducing oxidative stress.
A decrease in plasmalogens is also associated with asthma, a condition that affects about 3 in 10 people in the US. Plasmalogen deficiency in asthma may be related to oxidation of surfactant lipids. Exposure to ozone, a chemical in ambient air pollution, is known to decrease plasmalogens by degradation of their vinyl ether linkage. The ozone-induced loss of plasmalogens is likely to contribute to the development of the inflammatory process in asthma patients.
Another pathological condition that is associated with a decrease in plasmalogens is COPD, a chronic inflammatory respiratory disorder characterized by reduced pulmonary function. Plasmalogen deficiency in COPD may be due to oxidation of surfactant phospholipids. Exposure to ozone, as well as exposure to tobacco smoke, is known to deplete plasmalogens in the lungs of smokers.
In prematurely born infants, low plasmalogens are associated with a high risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD is a disease that results in progressive lung damage. Plasmalogens are incorporated into surfactant phospholipids and they have been demonstrated to reduce surface tension and viscosity of surfactants. Increasing the plasmalogen content of surfactant preparations has been shown to improve the respiratory outcomes of premature infants.
Other studies have shown that plasmalogen deficiency is linked with a variety of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Plasmalogen deficiency in PD is associated with decreased membrane fusion activity and subsequent neurotransmitter release and re-uptake. It is also associated with increased sensitivity to certain environmental neurotoxins that specifically target cholinergic neurons. This suggests that a vicious cycle is in place wherein oxidative stress degrades plasmalogens and exacerbates cellular damage ultimately leading to the symptoms of neurodegeneration.
Ageing
Plasmalogens are unique phospholipid molecules that are a critical part of nerve, heart, lung, eye and kidney cells. They are also essential for optimal neurotransmitter function. Their levels decrease as we age and their deficiency is exacerbated in certain conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Unlike Omega-3, plasmalogens cannot be replenished through diet. However, studies show that supplementation with Plasmalogens can dramatically boost cellular levels of these lipids.
During normal aging, plasmalogen levels are significantly reduced due to decreased synthesis in the liver and increased degradation in the gut. This is accompanied by a decline in the availability of fatty acids needed to generate plasmalogens and other essential lipids. Plasmalogen deficiency impairs a number of critically important cell functions including membrane fusion, lipid processing, vesicle formation, and oxidation-reduction. This is especially true for the brain, which is particularly sensitive to low plasmalogen levels as we get older.
Recent studies using high-throughput lipidomics have revealed that plasmalogen levels are reduced in the frontal cortex of patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. These findings are consistent with studies demonstrating that plasmalogen supplementation improves cognition in aged mice and increases the quality of synapses (connections between neurons) in the brain.
Plasmalogens have been shown to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in mice by reducing phospholipid alterations and by enhancing neuronal autophagy. They are also believed to help inhibit the accumulation of beta amyloid plaque, which is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
A patented process has been developed to convert DHA, EPA and GPC to plasmalogens. This method has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in preclinical trials and in human subjects consuming Prodrome-Neuro Plasmalogen Oil.
Each serving of Prodrome-Neuro Plasmalogen Complex contains 16mg of Ethanolamine Plasmalogens – the latest generation of brain health ingredients. Each dose also includes Curcumin, one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. Curcumin is produced through Bio-Mer’s patented technology and is highly bio-available. This combination of ingredients is an exciting new approach to boosting memory and brain health naturally. Try Prodrome-Neuro Plasmalogens today. Your body and your mind will thank you.
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Plasmalogens are lipids that modulate inflammation, cell growth, cell differentiation and apoptosis. Plasmalogen loss has been associated with different pathophysiological conditions such as RCDP (Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata), ALS, PD, BTHS and Alzheimer’s disease. This is probably due to the fact that peroxisomes, which are responsible for lipid synthesis, are deficient in diseased conditions (Cipolla and Lodhi, 2017). This decrease in plasmalogens leads to an increase in oxidative stress.
The loss of plasmalogens may cause a change in the biophysical properties of the phospholipid bilayered cell membrane that can affect the synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter release. This is because plasmalogens carry docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone and regulate the SNARE proteins that mediate synaptic vesicle exocytosis and membrane fusion.
Increasing the levels of plasmalogens through supplementation can have significant therapeutic benefits for the neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Studies have shown that plasmalogens prevent the onset and slow down the progression of these diseases by suppressing inflammatory responses, enhancing cellular viability, improving mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting apoptosis and reversing the protein aggregate build-up in the brain.
In the aging brain, plasmalogens can also restore the physiological structure and functions of the synapses, thus improving the cognitive function. Furthermore, a clinical trial has found that increasing blood plasmalogen levels through the use of NeuroPlasma Plasmalogen Complex can significantly reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
The clinical trial involved a group of patients with dementia who received the supplement for a period of six months. They were evaluated for their cognitive status and mobility, and blood plasmalogen levels were measured before and after the intervention. The results showed that plasmalogen supplementation had a significant positive effect on cognitive function and mobility. It also reduced the amount of amyloid plaque in their brain. The study was published in the journal Clinical Neurology. It was conducted by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Alzheimer’s Association. The study is currently ongoing, and further clinical trials are planned.
Cancer
Plasmalogens are a group of phospholipids that are normally produced by the body and found in blood. Cancer cells grow and reproduce uncontrollably forming a tumour which can then spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system. Plasmalogens help to limit the spread of cancer cells by blocking growth signals to these tumours. This can cause the tumour to stop growing and can even make the tumour smaller and more manageable.
Research has shown that a decrease in plasmalogen levels is associated with many diseases that are caused by inflammation and this can be reversed by administering plasmalogens. Plasmalogens can prevent oxidative stress, inhibit caspase activation, reduce microglial activation and inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Ifuku et al., 2012).
A low plasmalogen level is also associated with several other conditions including cleft palate and malformations of the heart, kidneys and bones. These conditions are characterized by a lack of plasmalogens in the blood and are referred to as RCDP (Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctatea) syndrome. Plasmalogens are also critical for the development of the brain, eyes and bone and their deficiency in RCDP patients leads to cortical cataracts, cleft palate, renal, cardiac and pulmonary malformations, and an increased risk of premature death.
Plasmalogens can be provided in the form of a supplement that is designed to restore the plasmalogen level and the lipid homeostasis in the body. This is known as plasmalogen replacement therapy or PRT and is available with a range of products from manufacturers including NeuroREGAIN, Prodrome Glia and ProdromeNeuro.
Plasmalogens are a naturally occurring phospholipid that is enriched with fatty acids such as AA and DHA. These are hydrolysed to release biologically active lipid mediators such as prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes, and DHA-derived resolvins and docosatrienes which are anti-inflammatory. The plasmalogens are also able to interact with the cells they come into contact with, which can help to regulate inflammatory responses in the body. These actions are also supported by the fact that there is a correlation between cellular plasmalogens and lipid mediator levels in diseases associated with inflammation.