AC-11 and DNA Repair

Is it possible to repair defects in our DNA with vitamins and supplements? Can a woody vine found in the Amazon rain forest actually repair DNA? It sounds like science fiction, but there is proven scientific research demonstrating that certain supplements can indeed repair damage to our DNA. I write about one of these supplements, AC-11 or Cat's Claw, in this article.     Our bodies are constantly under oxidative stress and damage caused by the toxins and pollutants in our environment, diet, and even in the air that we breathe. Damage to our cells and DNA caused by carcinogens, cigarette smoke, air pollution, certain drugs, and exposure to the sun is well documented. Over time this oxidative stress can actually lead to damage to the DNA of the cells themselves which can lead to premature aging, degeneration of the nervous system, and even cancer.  

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology: "Thus, oxidative DNA damage is implicated in carcinogenesis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. There is also strong evidence for the role of this type of DNA damage in the aging process. The accumulation of oxidative DNA damage in non-dividing cells is thought to contribute to age-associated diseases."   Most of us are familiar with the role that antioxidants provide in protecting our bodies from the damage and inflammation caused by free radicals. Are there also compounds that will actually repair DNA damage?  

Scientific Studies Prove the Efficacy of AC-11 to Repair DNA  

Scientific research has demonstrated that a number supplements can actually repair DNA. The compound AC-11 or Uncaria tomentosa has attracted considerable attention as a repairer of DNA. AC-11 is extracted from Cat's Claw, a woody vine found in South American rain forests.  

Several studies have proven that AC-11 can repair DNA damage. In one study, hairless mice were subjected to ultraviolet radiation which is known to cause DNA damage and skin cancer.  According to Dermatology Online Journal Volume 13 Number 3: "AC-11-treated animals almost completely repaired single-strand DNA breaks " and "double-strand DNA breaks were substantially fewer in animals treated with 40 mg of AC-11 and significantly fewer in animals treated with 80 mg of AC-11 compared to untreated animals." In another study, human subjects who had undergone previous chemotherapy and later given AC-11 supplementation demonstrated DNA repair. AC-11 is also known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing properties.