No human evidence that aequorin prevents dementia
A company called Quincy Bioscience sells a product containing aequorin (Prevagen) that it promotes as “the first supplement to address aging through the restoration of calcium-binding proteins.”
A reader asked what I’ve heard about this product, which contains aequorin (Aequorea victoria), a calcium-binding protein found in the jellyfish.
I know that it costs $99.95 for a 30-day supply. At $3 per day, one should expect at least a preliminary study in humans, right?
No way, Jose!
A PubMed literature search revealed studies in plants, barnacles, and in animal organs that were removed and studied in a laboratory.
- There was nothing in humans with or at risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
- There was 1 study on human heart tissue taken from heart transplant patients.
- But it was designed to show an effect on heart contraction, not dementia.
Dr. Dan Moran, who is director of manufacturing sciences at the Quincy Bioscience, states the case for aequorin, which is based on the “calcium hypothesis ” of brain aging, the role of calcium in normal brain function, changes that occur with aging.
However, no data support the ability of aequorin to alter any of this in the human brain while it’s still in a human. There are no studies to guide dosing. And, there is no information on the safety of aequorin.
The good news is that “The jellyfish are not harmed in the making of Prevagen, thanks to a humane extrusion process that is used.”
11/24/08 11:48 JR
vitaquestion said:
on November 24, 2008 at 4:13 pm
“I know that it costs $99.95 for a 30-day supply. At $3 per day, one should expect at least a preliminary study in humans, right?”
I want to think you for posting on this topic, but I am curious if you even went to their website to find information? The product sells for $59.95 for a 30-day supply.
“There was nothing in humans with or at risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.”
Amyloid-beta which increases Ca2+ in the cells. Maybe you can shed more light on how an unregulated Ca2+ concentration plays a role in the body.
munderwood said:
on November 24, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Prevagen typically retails for $59.95 MSRP for a one month supply (30 capsules) which is less than $2 per day. This is the price for the consumer version of the product (10 mg) while Prevagen Professional (20 mg) is at a higher price point and is only available via healthcare practitioners.
There certainly is human data behind Prevagen, reported at the following web site. This is data collected relative to memory changes in healthy Prevagen users. Prevagen has never been tested in Alzheimer’s patients or in those with similar dementia.
http://www.prevagen.com/files/PRV_MemoryStudy1.pdf
Aequorin (or apoaequorin) is safe to the level of 5000mg/kg of body weight as tested in animals. With a daily dose of only 10 mg there is an enormous distance between the effective dose and any toxic dose.
For any questions please feel free to call 888-814-0814 or visit http://www.prevagen.com.
JR said:
on November 24, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Click the links. 3 of the 5 come from the Quincy Bioscience website.
Are you trying to say that $59.95 makes a difference?
I’m more than happy to post a data-based defense of aequorin. But if Quincy Bioscience is going to sell it to the public, they should expect to be asked for data in humans that include dosing, efficacy, and safety information.
I’ll discuss the proposed mechanism of this product when there’s data to show it matters.
JR
JR said:
on November 24, 2008 at 8:53 pm
The “human study” referred to by the second commenter is misleading.
The objective of the study was “to help 4 dementia experts create a dementia screening instrument amenable to application and scoring by nonclinical personnel.” It was not designed as a dose-ranging study or an efficacy study for aequorin.
So, technically, it has been used in a study, but it’s misleading to name the study “The Prevagen Memory Study,” as Quincy Bioscience has done in their handout.
Interesting that the authors of “The Prevagen Memory Study” make no mention of aequorin or Prevagen in the abstract.
Where’s the data?
Where is the dose-ranging study?
Where is at least 1 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial?
Is a long-term study of safety available or at lest process?
JR