A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Free Radical Biology and Medicine tested the botanical Nrf2 activator PB125 in 20 younger and 24 older adults. Two weeks of supplementation was associated with approximately 65% higher brachial and 57% higher popliteal flow-mediated dilation in older participants, and with preserved endothelial function and leg vascular conductance through five days of bed rest. Endothelial function declines predictably with age and inactivity, making it one of the more tractable vascular targets in aging.
Key Points
- Brachial flow-mediated dilation rose roughly 65% in older adults
- Endothelial function preserved through five days of bed rest
- Circulating superoxide dismutase maintained during immobilization in trial participants
Longevity Analysis
Arterial endothelium governs perfusion across every organ, and its decline tracks closely with cardiovascular and cognitive risk in later decades. Targeting the Nrf2 pathway shifts the intervention upstream — supporting the body's own antioxidant enzymes rather than supplying antioxidants directly — which is why measures such as superoxide dismutase held steady while participants were immobilized. Flow-mediated dilation remains a practical readout for clinicians tracking whether a vascular protocol is working, particularly during periods of forced inactivity such as hospitalization or post-surgical recovery, when losses accumulate quickly.
Original published by Longevity.Technology.