Longevity 101: What is Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
Early last year, MedScape published an insightful article combining the experiences of various physicians all across the world reporting positive outcomes for patients with a variety of conditions using LDN. Findings from recent studies suggest LDN may represent a low-cost and safe alternative treatment for several chronic neurologic, rheumatologic, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions.
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), originally prescribed in higher doses as a treatment for opioid addiction, works by blocking opioid receptors, thereby stimulating the production of endorphins, mitigating the inflammatory process, and stabilizing the immune response. Prescribed off-label and administered in small daily doses, this generic drug has proven useful to reduce chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, obesity, fatigue, and chronic pain. Naltrexone has been in use for over 40 years with an outstanding safety record and with hundreds of clinical studies showing LDN to be a safe and effective treatment for many inflammatory-related diseases.
LDN Works on a Cellular Level to Increase Longevity
Endorphins are polypeptides made by the pituitary gland and central nervous system to moderate the production of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. Endorphins primarily help us to reduce pain and inflammation, promote autophagy, and cellular clean up.
In individuals with depression, fibromyalgia, cognitive degeneration, and autoimmunity, chronically low levels of endorphins appear to be a consistent finding - specifically, low levels of an endorphin called the Opioid Growth Factor (OGF). OGF is an endorphin produced in most cells in the body to both influence and regulate cell growth, as well as immunity. When low levels of OGF endorphins exist, it is likely for individuals to develop a dysfunctional immune system which can lead to various chronic diseases. Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) has been shown to increase OGF levels in the body, resulting in positive outcomes for those suffering from the aforementioned disorders.
How Does it Work?
LDN first binds to opioid receptors. In doing so, it up-regulates the expression of the opioid growth factor and its receptor, OGFr. LDN blocks the OGF receptors for three to five hours, after which the body experiences a rebound effect where there is greatly increased production and utilization of OGF. Once the LDN has fallen off the OGF receptors and excreted, the increased number of endorphins bind to the now more-sensitive and more-plentiful receptors. As a result, these new and improved receptors assist in regulating cell growth - promoting healing, reducing inflammation, increasing immunity and autophagy.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment
LDN appears to exert an effect on cancer, in part, by modulating the immune syste. Studies suggest that LDN increases endorphin production, which then orchestrates the activity of various cells in the body - including stem cells and certain immune cells like natural killer cells -benefiting wellness and health. Intermittent dosing with LDN causes increased cell death in certain cancers, and appear to increase cell sensitivity to chemotherapy agents. Certain cell types treated with LDN up-regulate genes that are responsible for cell death - (BAD and BIK1). Certain tumor cells pre-treated with intermittent LDN dosing are also far more likely to be killed by chemotherapy drugs. LDN additionally appears to have a direct cytotoxic effect on cancer cells, via a P13 kinase, cyclin P21 and downstream G-Protein coupled receptor routes.
Which diseases are being treated with LDN?
The list below is not exhaustive but provides some insight to the applicability of LDN to many disease and disorders:
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Lyme Disease
Hashimoto’s
Grave’s
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Parkinson’s Disease
Diabetes
Vitiligo
Scleroderma
Psoriasis
Anxiety and Depression
PCOS
Melanoma
Nerve Pain
Glioblastoma
Esophageal and Oral Cancers
Non-Small Cell Cancer
Breast Cancer
Multiple Myeloma
Lymphoma
Ovarian Cancer
Renal Cell Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Duodenal and Stomach Cancer
Uterine Cancer
Hepatic Cancer
PTSD
PMDD
Obesity
LDN and Longevity
Based on the mechanisms of action and previous research, LDN appears to decrease chronic inflammation and modulate the immune system, which may prevent the onset of various chronic conditions and delay the development of age-related health issues. Given that LDN may promote immune cell proliferation, wound healing, and reduce inflammation, LDN is likely to have an important impact on promoting longevity.
If you’d like to learn more about LDN and our anti-aging protocols to see if they are right for you, contact our clinic for an in person or online visit - DrFabio.com.
About The Center for Integrative Healing & Wellness
Dr. Fabio Almeida M.D. ABOIM, ABNM, ABOM is the founder and director of the Center for Integrative Healing & Wellness at the CIVANA Carefree Resort. Dr. Fabio is a triple board-certified physician with expertise in Integrative & Functional Medicine/Oncology, Molecular Imaging and Obesity. He served as an Assistant Professor of Radiology & Radiation Oncology, and subsequently as the Director of Molecular Imaging for the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson Arizona. Dr. Fabio is a fellow of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Arizona, where he acquired expertise in integrative medicine, herbal medicine, nutrition, fitness, acupuncture, and stress management. He is published in several peer-reviewed journals and book chapters in radiology, oncology, cardiology, nutrition, and information science.
At the Center, Dr. Fabio and his team offer concierge adult primary care and a wide variety of personalized integrative, holistic and anti-aging therapies (traditional medicine, nutrition, culinary medicine, herbal/botanical, lifestyle, weight loss, hormone balance, fitness, energy medicine) to address all our client’s longevity and health care needs.