sHEALyWellness 

ADMA-the best predictor of health and longevity

C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D.

ADMA, asymmetric dimethylarginine, is the single most critical blood test to determine your risk for heart attack and death. Although physicians have focused on cholesterol as the most important factor for coronary artery disease, actually homocysteine and High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein are considerably more important. Interestingly, these often ignored markers are also strikingly correlated also with increased levels of ADMA, a test rarely done and available only at a few special labs. Even in diabetics, elevated ADMA is found much more commonly in those with “masked hypertension”-that is the elevated BP does not show up in regular office visits but is picked up only when the diabetic patient is monitored in an ambulatory setting.

ADMA inhibits endothelial function by blocking nitric oxide synthesis; nitric oxide is the critical essential for normal blood flow. Interestingly there are many factors that determine ADMA, and one of the most striking is the increase in ADMA in individuals taking protein pump inhibitors, which significantly reduce nitric oxide production, as the acid in the stomach is essential for conversion of nitrites and nitrates to nitric oxide!  Smokers also have higher levels of ADMA.  Individuals who are critically ill have significant increases in ADMA and those with the highest levels of ADMA are least likely to survive. In fact, all major illnesses, including myelodysplasia, cancer, Alzheimer’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and even metabolic syndrome are associated with elevated ADMA.

Interestingly, NAC, N-acetylcysteine, omega-3, total anti-oxidant intake and exercise all help to lower ADMA. I predict that Kyani NitroXtreme will lower ADMA and I hope to demonstrate that soon. I am also looking at other ways of decreasing ADMA. Meanwhile, as with most problems, you can best protect yourself by:

·Keeping your Body Mass index 18 to 24

·Not smoking

·Exercising regularly

·Avoiding sugar

·Taking extra folic acid (up to 100 mg daily), zinc, selenium, omega-3’s, vitamin C, NAC and B 12