The Science

The Science Behind NTFactor®

Restoring the Structure and Function of Cellular Membranes

There’s no getting around it – we all get older! But some of us age better than others. Much of the quality of our lives as we grow older comes down to the health of the cellular membranes in our bodies, which protect us from a host of things in our environment – some of which we can attempt to control, but many more that we can’t. Our cellular membranes also change naturally as we age, but there is a way we can help maintain the youthful qualities of our cellular membranes, even with advanced age.

A lot of this depends on how well we take care of our cellular membranes. Each cell is surrounded by a very thin membrane called the cell or plasma membrane. This membrane forms the outer boundary of every cell in your body. Other intracellular membranes also function inside cells as internal barriers that separate cellular compartments called organelles.

Learn more about the science behind NTFactor® and cellular health

Cellular membranes have five primary functions:

They keep toxic substances out of your cells and important molecules inside cells or inside cell organelles

They contain receptors and channels that allow specific molecules, such as ions, nutrients, and waste and metabolic products, to pass between organelles inside cells and between cells and their outside environments

They separate vital but incompatible metabolic and enzymatic processes that go on within various organelles

They comprise unique attachment platforms that allow cells to interact with extracellular matrix and other cells and be organized into tissues and organs

Finally, they allow and modulate signals to be passed between cell organelle compartments and between different cells and groups of cells or tissues

One of the most important collections of organelles inside cells are the mitochondria, which are separated from the cell interior by a double membrane. Mitochondria are the little batteries inside each cell that provide most of the cellular energy in the form of high-energy molecules that cells need to exist and function. As we age beyond our 30s, we naturally start to lose some mitochondrial function. This eventually causes a variety of problems, such as increased fatigue, and loss of stamina, vitality and changes associated with host responses against infections.

Within the membranes of the mitochondria, especially the inner mitochondrial membrane, a delicate balance occurs between the production of high-energy molecules like ATP – and a byproduct of potentially harmful free radical oxidants. These free radical oxidants are highly reactive molecules that can modify other cellular components and inactivate them. In general, through the first two to three decades of life, with good health, exercise and nutrition, we can maintain a healthy level of production of natural cellular antioxidants, like glutathione and catalase. These are important normal cellular antioxidant molecules that quench and neutralize those damaging free radical oxidants.

But, sooner or later, the stresses of life and certain health conditions will allow the free radical oxidants to out-number and completely neutralize the cellular supply of natural antioxidants. During the aging process, those individuals who protect their health and well-being (or are just blessed with certain critical genes) seem not to age as fast as others. However, for most people who aren’t as diligent about watching their health, diet and exercise, we see the signs of aging much sooner; the wrinkles, tiredness, weakness and the loss of vitally. At the cellular level, those with declining vitality and appearance of other signs of aging are losing the battle between damaging free radicals and natural antioxidants in their cells and tissues. As the damage accumulates with age, we show their effects by displaying the signs of aging mentioned above.

How do we stay feeling young for as long as we can?

NTFactor® and NTFactor Lipids® are the first nutritional supplements (food material from outside the body) to demonstrate the ability to restore the structure and function of cellular membranes in the human body. NTFactor® and NTFactor Lipids® effectiveness have been proven in multiple studies in animals and humans. They demonstrate the benefits of restoring natural cellular membrane structure and function.

This process was first demonstrated in laboratory animals at the famed hospital and research institute, Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. By adding NTFactor® to the animals’ chow, the researchers showed that the normal age-related loss of hearing and other age-related changes in aged animals was reduced and/or delayed. In subsequent studies at the Institute for Molecular Medicine in California using humans, NTFactor® was shown in elderly men and women (average age of 70) to restore the structure and function of mitochondrial membranes to levels equivalent to that seen in healthy 30-year-old adults. This was after only eight weeks of daily use! The men and women in this study had significantly less age- and health-related fatigue, and significantly more mitochondrial function than seen at the start of the study.

What are the Benefits of Restored Cellular Membranes?

The daily use of NTFactor® or NTFactor Lipids® results in:

Better membrane transport of nutrients into and waste products out of cells

Maintains the proper levels of high-energy molecules produced by the mitochondria inside cells so that cellular energy and function can be maintained

Better protection from toxic substances getting into cells

Restores the natural electrical balance of our cell membranes so that membrane receptors, channels, and gradient pumps work to optimum potentials

Helps remove cellular waste and toxic molecules that accumulate inside cells with age

And finally, it restores the potential to enjoy a lifestyle equilivant to a much younger time in your life!

What are the Practical Benefits to our Health As Shown in Clinical Research Studies?

Most, if not all, clinical conditions are characterized by membrane damage by free radical oxidants, resulting in loss of cellular membrane activities and reductions in cellular function. For example, most clinical conditions are known to have associated loss of mitochondrial function. Thus, a key feature of several clinical trials has been to restore that mitochondrial function.

To examine this in humans, clinical trials have been designed, approved by outside review boards, and implemented by the Institute for Molecular Medicine under the overall direction of Professor Emeritus Garth Nicolson, PhD, MD (H). These clinical studies show the benefits of Membrane Lipid Replacement supplements (NTFactor® and NTFactor Lipids®) in replenishing damaged membrane components and restoring mitochondrial function. This has resulted in significant reductions in fatigue in aged subjects and patients. Importantly, these and other clinical studies have resulted in multiple, peer-reviewed publications in established, international medical journals.

References

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http://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=63602
Nicolson GL, Ash ME.Membrane Lipid Replacement for chronic illnesses, aging and cancer using oral glycerolphospholipid formulations with fructooligosaccharides to restore phospholipid function in cellular membranes, organelles, cells and tissues. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Biomembranes 2017; 1859: 1704-1724.
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http://www.immed.org/illness/treatment_considerations.html
Agadjanyan M, Vasilevko V, Ghochikyan A, Berns P, Kesslak P, Settineri R, Nicolson GL. Nutritional supplement (NTFactor) restores mitochondrial function and reduces moderately severe fatigue in aged subjects.Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 2003; 11(3): 23-36.
http://www.immed.org/treatment considerations/06.16.12/AgadjanyanNicolsonJCFS.pdf
Nicolson GL, Ellithorpe R.Lipid replacement and antioxidant nutritional therapy for restoring mitochondrial function and reducing fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome and other fatiguing illnesses. Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 2006; 13(1), 57-68.
http://www.immed.org/illness/treatment_considerations.html
Nicolson GL, Settineri R, Ferreira G, Breeding P.Reduction of pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal and other symptoms and improvement in quality of life indicators in fibromyalgia patients with Membrane Lipid Replacement glycerolphospholipids and controlled-release caffeine. International Journal of Clinical Medicine 2018; 9: 560-579.
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=86236
Settineri R, Ji J, Shields ZP, Shirvani T, McLaren CE, Nicolson GL. The effects of Membrane Lipid Replacement with NTFactor^® Lipids on increasing the bioavailability of three test nutrients. Bioactive Compounds in Health & Disease 2022, 5(5): 106-116.
https://doi.org/10.31989/bchd.v5i5.936
Nicolson GL, Breeding PC. Membrane Lipid Replacement with glycerolphospholipids slowly reduces self-reported symptom severities in chemically exposed Gulf War veterans. International Journal of Translational Medicine 2022; 2(2): 164-173.
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8937/2/2/14