Plasmalogens are essential lipid molecules that support the integrity of membranes and promote healthy cellular function. They also assist with a wide range of biochemical processes, including membrane fusion, ion transport, vesicle formation and oxidation-reduction.
Studies have shown that low levels of plasmalogens are associated with a greater risk of dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. This is due to the way that plasmalogens are critical for glial cell recovery from damage caused by inflammation.
Why Plasmalogens?
Plasmalogens are unique phospholipid molecules that are a part of nerve, heart, lung, eye, and kidney cells. They are important for the release of neurotransmitters in these cells. As people age and become sick, plasmalogen levels decrease dramatically. This is because these lipids are degraded in the gut.
They are also necessary for proper cholesterol transport and vesicular fusion in the brain, which is why they are low in people with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. These disorders all have common features.
The lack of plasmalogens causes these diseases to be much more difficult to treat. There are a variety of ways to increase your plasmalogen levels, including eating more krill and mussels or taking a plasmalogen supplement.
These supplements contain plasmalogen precursors, which are chemicals that can be used to make plasmalogens. They are typically extracted from marine animals such as krill and mussels or from land-based foods such as pork, beef, and chicken.
Plasmalogens can also be made synthetically in the laboratory. Using this method, you can create plasmalogens that are similar to those that your body naturally makes. These compounds have been shown to be safe, and they can be administered orally.
When you choose to take a plasmalogen supplement, you are getting a powerful antioxidant that can help protect your cell membranes from oxidative stress and damage. This type of supplement can help prevent cancers, as well as other inflammatory conditions.
In addition, it can improve the health of your heart and blood vessels. Several studies have shown that plasmalogens can reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and even cancer.
They also have a positive impact on the function of your immune system. These lipids are a good source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, which help fight infection.
Because of their ability to scavenge two oxidative species, plasmalogens are considered efficient internal antioxidants. They are also important for the formation of lipid rafts in the cytoplasm, which can help with cellular communication and signaling. These lipids can also help keep your skin healthy by blocking UV light from penetrating the surface of your skin.
Create a Biochemical Savings Account for Your Body
When your body is healthy and functioning at its best, you can save and grow your biochemical reserves. Just like a savings account, you can build up your reserve capacity. This can be accomplished by supplementing with plasmalogens.
In humans, the most important source of plasmalogens is the brain. However, they are also found in other organs such as the liver and lungs.
Low levels of plasmalogens are associated with several health problems, including asthma, heart disease, and bipolar disorder. They can also contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Another important role of plasmalogens is to support the body’s ability to fight off disease. They help the immune system by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress. They are also necessary for healthy cell growth and development.
The body can use plasmalogens to increase the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes. This improves the immune system’s response to infections. It also helps to regulate the inflammatory responses that lead to conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.
Moreover, plasmalogens are essential for the formation of lipids that serve as a protective barrier against toxins. They are also crucial for cellular membrane function and homeostasis.
Plasmalogens are naturally occurring in a wide variety of foods including fish, shellfish, and dairy products. They are a valuable source of fatty acids (primarily omega-3s), phospholipids, and choline.
In addition, they are an excellent source of dietary protein. A study showed that a diet rich in plasmalogens reduced the development of cancer in mice.
Furthermore, plasmalogens help to maintain the balance of lipids and proteins in the body. They are also helpful in regulating glucose levels in the body and maintaining cholesterol metabolism.
Despite their importance, there is still a lot of research that is needed to determine the role of plasmalogens in human health and disease. In particular, research is needed to determine the role of plasmalogens on neurodegenerative and age-related disorders. This could be achieved by studying the plasmalogen levels in different tissues and using them as an indicator of cellular dysfunction or to measure how plasmalogens levels respond to intervention.
Boost Memory and Cognitive Function
Scientists have found that dietary supplementation with plasmalogens can help reverse age-related cognitive decline in mice. They also discovered that the lipids can enhance synaptic plasticity within the brain, which is vital for learning and memory.
Plasmalogens, which are a type of phospholipid, are found in high concentrations in the human brain and are thought to play an important role in promoting neurogenesis and synaptic health. They are particularly abundant in the hippocampus, which is where many brain functions such as learning and memory occur.
In a study published in Nature Medicine, researchers from China found that mice treated with plasmalogens showed improvements in both memory and learning skills. They also found that plasmalogens reduce inflammation in the brain and help to create new neurons.
A plasmalogen-rich diet also lowered the levels of three inflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). These cytokines are produced by activated microglia, which can trigger oxidative stress and contribute to memory loss.
Another important nutrient that helps to improve memory is Vitamin E. It is often deficient in older people, and getting enough of it is essential to support the health of your brain. You can get it in your diet from nuts, seeds and dark colored fruits.
The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are also essential for a healthy brain. They can be found in fish such as salmon and organ meats, but they can also be obtained by taking a supplemental form of these two nutrients.
These lipids can also be used to produce neurotransmitters, which are necessary for brain function. They are known to increase the activity of the brain’s NMDA receptors, which play an important role in memory and learning.
In addition, the lipids can help to make the protein that allows for the transfer of information between neurons. This process is called synaptic vesicle exocytosis.
The fatty acids and proteins in plasmalogens can also play an important role in regulating the SNARE proteins that transport neurotransmitters between synapses and the membrane. They can also regulate the release of nitric oxide, which plays a role in calming the nervous system and reducing anxiety.
Reduce the Risk of Dementia
Plasmalogens, also called phospholipids, are essential for healthy brain function and have been shown to reduce the risk of dementia. They are found in bacteria, protozoa, invertebrates, and in mammals, including humans. The unique chemical structure of plasmalogens allows them to bind oxygen and play the role of antioxidant.
Studies have demonstrated that plasmalogens can reduce inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration in the brain. This is a significant finding in the context of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
In addition to improving brain health, plasmalogens can reduce the risk of AD by preventing b-amyloid formation, neurotoxicity, and neuroinflammation. Additionally, they have been shown to improve memory and cognition, thereby reducing the severity of the disease.
Moreover, plasmalogens can reverse age-related cognitive deficits by increasing synaptic plasticity, connections between neurons, and the generation of new neurons. Gu and colleagues tested the effect of plasmalogens on the cognitive performance of aged mice using the Morris water maze test, and found that aged mice given plasmalogens performed significantly better on the test.
The researchers also examined the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is responsible for memory. Electron microscopy of the hippocampus revealed that Pls-fed aged mice had more synapses and more synaptic vesicles compared to untreated control animals. The synapse and vesicles were enriched with synaptophysin, a protein that is integral in synaptic vesicles.
A further study by Gu and colleagues examined the effect of plasmalogens on hippocampal neurogenesis, or the formation of new neurons. They injected Pls into young mice and aged mice to see whether the plasmalogen supplementation altered a protein called SOX2+, which is a marker for neural stem cells that represent elevated neurogenesis. They found that aged mice given plasmalogens had more SOX2+ expression compared to young controls, indicating that the plasmalogen supplementation may be able to protect against the loss of neurogenesis that leads to dementia.