Free radicals are highly reactive molecules due to the presence of an unpaired electron in their outer orbital. Free radicals react with and damage key functional and structural molecules in living systems such lipids (cell membranes), proteins and DNA, causing oxidative stress. Free radicals are implicated in many disease processes, including the neurodegenerative diseases of aging. Many pharmaceutical, illicit and recreational drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) increase free radical levels in the body and brain that may accelerate the progression of diseases.

There are many commercial antioxidant formulas available to help counter oxidative stress. Until now there was no easy way to test whether or not these compounds were doing the job. The scientists at decided to test all the top brand name antioxidants by measuring the degree of lipid peroxidation in the urine with our RAD TEST™, administering the antioxidants and then re-testing.

They made two important discoveries for the consumer.

First, they discovered that most of the antioxidant formulas produced no noticeable change in lipid peroxides (a measure of free radical activity), even at high doses. The second discovery was that many of the commercially available tablets did not dissolve even after sitting for hours in the dissolution chamber (a test simulating digestion).

The scientists at utilized their 50 years of combined experience in drug research and nutritional formulations to design the ultimate antioxidant formula. They tested dozens of raw ingredients in many different combinations and concentrations, until they arrived at the ultimate antioxidant, NeuroGuard™. challenges you to find an antioxidant product that will out perform NeuroGuard™.

Even if you don't use any drugs, this is simply the best antioxidant formula available. We have the science to back up our claims. Ask the producers of your current antioxidant formula how they test the efficacy of their product against free radicals:

  • They won't know what you are talking about
  • They will tell you they don't do any testing
  • They will tell you their test results are not available
  • They will tell you that's a trade secret
  • They will tell you that they just know that their formula works

NeuroGuard™ brain and nerve recovery ingredients:

L-Carnosine
L-Carnosine is a dipeptide that neutralizes the damaging hydroxyl radicals. It also prevents DNA oxidation and blocks excitatory neurotransmitter toxicity, implicated in the neurotoxic process. L-carnosine prevents lipid oxidation and cross linking (abnormal molecular bonds) which occurs when aldehydes like those formed during degradation of dopamine (and sugars) react with protein amino groups and polymerize.

R-Lipoic acid
R-Lipoic acid is the biologically active form of alpha lipoic acid and up to 10 times more potent. It reaches higher blood levels than alpha lipoic, crosses the blood brain barrier and boosts glutathione, the body's major antioxidant enzyme. R-Lipoic acid is one of the most important protective nutrients available.

Alpha-Lipoic acid
Alpha-Lipoic acid is a master antioxidant that protects cell membranes both in the aqueous and fatty bi-layers. It recycles Vitamin C and Vitamin E, CoQ10 and boosts glutathione.

Quercetin
Quercetin is a catechol-type flavonoid that localizes near the surface of phospholipid bilayers of membranes and scavenges aqueous oxygen radicals. The actions of Quercetin prevent the consumption of lipophilic alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) and the peroxidation of neuronal membranes.

Calcium ascorbate
Calcium ascorbate is a neutral salt form of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a major component of the body's antioxidant defense shield. The highest accumulation of Vitamin C is in the adrenal glands. The second highest is in the nerve terminals in the brain the location where free radical induced damage occurs.

Selenomethionine
Selenomethionine is the most bioactive form of selenium, bound to the sulfur containing amino acid methionine. Selenium substantially reduces lipid peroxidation.

Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin is a new commercial antioxidant concentrated from algae that anchors itself between the fat/water interface of cell membranes, the exact location where free radicals exert their damage on serotonin and dopamine nerve terminals. Astaxanthin blocks lipid peroxidation. Next to R-Lipoic acid and Vitamin C this may exert more protection against free radical oxidation than any other nutrient.

Grapeseed Standardized Extract (90-95% proanthocyanodins)
Grapeseed Standardized Extract contains proanthocyanodins; a group of powerful flavonoid antioxidants that cross the blood-brain barrier, reduce inflammation and protect neurons from a variety of free radicals generated.

Schizandra Standardized Extract
Schizandra Standardized Extract (9% schizandrins) is a traditional Chinese herb that increases glutathione, a major component of the endogenous antioxidant shield.

Vitamin E (Vitamin E succinate, Mixed Tocopherols, Tocotrienols)
Vitamin E is the official designation for alpha tocopherol, a fat-soluble nutrient found in the diet in varying amounts. The term vitamin E is used to refer to all toco (mixed tocopherols) and trienol (tocotrienol) derivatives. The tocols are alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocopherols; the trienols are alpha, beta, delta and gamma tocotrienols. All of these substances have vitamin E activity and until recently it was thought alpha tocopherol was the most active form. As such, only official vitamin E activity (IU) is given to alpha tocopherol. Recent research however, suggests that gamma tocopherol is as biologically active as alpha tocopherol and that vitamin E products should contain tocopherols and tocotrienols for maximum benefit.

Vitamin E succinate is the most active form of vitamin E and protects cell membranes from oxidation better than other forms of natural or synthetic vitamin E.

Mixed tocopherols are the balanced and complete natural spectrum of tocotrienols enhancing antioxidant effects.

Tocotrienols are a palm-oil derived antioxidant faction of vitamin E with more protective power than vitamin E alone. They work synergistically with Vitamin E and the other ingredients to protect cell membranes from oxidative stress of peroxyl radicals.




NeuroGuard™ References


Carnosine
  1. Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology 17(2):259-271, 1997
  2. Biochemical and Physiological Evidence that Carnosine is an Endogenous Neuroprotector Against Free Radicals
  3. Biochemical Society Trans. 22(4):399S, 1994 Carnosine Protects Proteins Against In vitro Glycation and Cross Linking
R-Lipoic Acid
  1. Neurotoxicology 2002 Oct;23(4-5):479-86 Pre-treatment with R-lipoic acid alleviates the effects of GSH depletion in PC12 cells: implications for Parkinson's disease therapy.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
  1. J Neurochem 2001 Oct; 79(1):152-60 Parallel increases in lipid and protein oxidative markers in several mouse brain regions after methamphetamine treatment.
  2. Eur J Pharmacol 2000 Jul 14; 400(1):99-102 Methamphetamine selectively alters brain glutathione.
Quercetin
  1. Protective effects of epiatechin, epicatechin gallate and quercitin on lipid peroxidation in phsophollipids layers. Arch Biochenm Biophys 1994 Jan 308(1) 278-84
Ascorbic Acid
  1. Peterson FJ, Knodell RG. Ascorbic acid protects against acetaminophen- and cocaine-induced hepatic damage in mice. Drug Nutr Interact. 1984;3(1):33-41.
  2. Ascorbic acid reduces the dopamine depletion induced by methamphetamine and the 1-mehtyl 4-phenyl amphetamine ion Nuropharmacology 6 May: 25(5): 259-61,
  3. Pretreatment with ascorbic acid attenuates the neurotoxic effects of amphetamine in rats. Res Pathol Pharmacol 1985 Feb; 47(2): 2 221-8:
Selenomethionine
  1. Brain Res 1999 Dec 18;851(1-2):76-86 Protection of methamphetamine nigrostriatal toxicity by dietary selenium
Astaxanthin
  1. Physiological Chemistry and Physics and Medical NMR 1990: 22(1) pp27-38; Inhibition of Oxidative Injury of Biological Membranes by Astaxanthin
  2. Pure and Applied Chemistry 1991: 63(1) pp. 141-146; Biological Functions and Activities of Animal
Carotenoids
  1. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 2001 Mar;23(2):79-84 Effect of astaxanthin on the hepatotoxicity, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzymes in the liver of CCl4-treated rats.
Grapeseed
  1. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 2002 Jul 15;104(1):55-65 Pycnogenol protects neurons from amyloid-beta peptide-induced apoptosis.
  2. Nutrition 2000 Nov-Dec;16(11-12):1079-81 Effect of select antioxidants on malondialdehyde modification of proteins
Schizandra
  1. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2002 Sep;8(6):385-7 Glutathione depletion and oxidative stress.
  2. Recent Advances in Chinese Herbal Drugs-Actions and Uses Beijing:Sci Press 1991 pp 100-101
  3. Nutrition Science News: The Journal of Natural Products Research and Innovation Jan 2001 Vol 6 No 1 pp 16-18
Vitamin E Succinate
  1. Chronic ethanol and cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity: effects of vitamin E supplementation. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1992 Oct;16(5):904-9.
  2. Nutrition Science News March 2001 Vol 6 No 3, pp 82-92
  3. Alpha-tocopheryl succinate sensitizes a T lymphoma cell line to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by suppressing NF-kappaB activation. Br J Cancer 2003 Jan 13;88(1):153-8
Mixed Tocopherols
  1. Different isoforms of tocopherols enhance nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation and inhibit human platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation: implications in therapy with vitamin E. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther 2001 Apr;6(2):155-61


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