GG – “A Groundbreaking Anti-Aging Solution”

December 5, 2024

Geranylgeraniol (GG)

The ancient Annatto plant found in Central and South America, is the oldest known natural dye-yielding plant used for natural food coloring.   It also produces the amazing healing substance Vitamin E-delta tocotrienol, see blog Nov 15, 2024.

Another substance found most abundantly and extracted from the Annatto plant is a biochemical building block called Geranylgeraniol (GG).

GG is found in lesser amounts in edible oils like olive, flax, and sunflower oils, but the majority of it is made endogenously in our bodies.

This blog is about the variety of uses and significance of GG as we age, and how GG may be beneficial for you. The blog is based on a lecture by Dr Barrie Tan at the AMMG meetings, November 2024, as well as other research. The slides are from Dr Tan’s lecture.

 

Geranylgeraniol (GG)  Foundational and Incredible Uses:

  • It is a building block for making vitamins A and vitamin E.
  • It is a building block for making Coenzyme Q10 and MK4 (Menaquinone).
  • It is essential to make skeletal muscle proteins, to maintain functional muscle mass, and prevent muscle wasting especially in the elderly.
  • It helps make 2000 different proteins in the body essential for life.
  • It decreases side effects of statins while maintaining cholesterol lowering abilities.
  • It can increase testosterone levels in men with testosterone levels < 700 ng//dL but not in men whose levels are >700 ng/dL.
  • It helps decrease inflammation and pain in minutes.
  • It helps mitigate osteonecrosis caused by bisphosphonates medication for osteoporosis.
  • It can help stabilize blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity.
  • It can be used for influenza and bronchial mucous problems associated with influenza, viruses, emphysema and COPD.
  • It makes bixin, giving plants their colors and used for natural food coloring.
  • It is commonly used as an ingredient in perfume.
  • It is a pheromone for bumblebees and other insects, as well as an insect repellant
  • It is synthesized in the Mevalonate Pathway

 

What is the Mevalonate Pathway and Why is it So Important?

There are 4 huge reasons for the importance of the Mevalonate Pathway:

  1. Cholesterol, CoQ10. MK4, Heme A, Dolichol, Testosterone and Progesterone are all made in via the Mevalonate pathway.  (See figure 1 below).
  2. GG is also made in the Mevalonate pathway.  It is a building block necessary to make Cholesterol, CoQ10. MK4, Heme A, Dolichol, Testosterone and Progesterone.  Without GG all these substances cannot be formed.
  3. Statins decrease the effectiveness this pathway to reduce your cholesterol and Bisphosphonate medication for osteoporosis decrease this pathway lower down to help build bone.  By interrupting this pathway, both medications can induce unwanted side effects.
  4. This pathway is seen as the “last common step” between plants and mammals evolutionarily. For example, plants use GG to synthesize chlorophyll, and humans use GG to synthesize MK4 and CoQ10 as structures are similar.  In humans, this makes this pathway thousands of years surviving through evolution, making it essential for life.

 

STUDIES DONE SHOWING OUTCOMES OF TAKING GG

GG Can Increase Testosterone Production

Testosterone and all our sex hormones are synthesized from cholesterol!!! Yes, you have cholesterol in your testis!  This is one big reason we need to keep our good cholesterol within a high normal range.

The Japanese found GG stimulates synthesis of both Testosterone and Progesterone. The mechanism is still unknown.  One theory is the synthesis is helped by MK4 also made by GG.

A double blinded controlled study was published in Nutraceuticals, December 2023, in men aged 30-49, who took GG for 8 weeks.  The findings showed, in a subgroup of men with testosterone levels <700 ng/dL:  total testosterone increased by 7.5%, free testosterone by 15%, and bioavailable testosterone by 14.8%.  The placebo group, however, had a decrease in total testosterone of -7.4%, free testosterone by -4.2%, and bioavailable testosterone by -5.4%.  In men with testosterone levels (>700 ng/DL) there was no change with added GG.

GG Can Reverse Statin Side Effects   

GG is a building block keeping our mitochondria healthy generating energy (ATP), in all our cells.  GG increases CoQ10 synthesis increasing cellular energy and makes hormones listed above so it can have a huge influence on how we feel.

Statins slow down the Mevalonate Pathway.  Aging also slows down the Mevalonate Pathway leading to decreased energy and decreased muscle mass making us feel old, feeble, and tired. Our ability to maintain our muscle mass is predictive of how long we will live making this pathway truly essential for life.

GG production is blocked by Statins and Bisphosphonates leading to side effects. (see Figure 1 below)

Figure 1

Statins and aging slow down the Mevalonate Pathway.  Therefore, as you age taking statins, the more side-effects you may have.  By slowing down the Mevalonate Pathway, statins can give you similar side effects of aging; decreased energy via lowered CoQ10 levels, decreased mitochondrial function, decreased muscle mass and muscle toxicity.

The good news is, if you take GG when you are on a statin, the GG will reverse the statin side effects without affecting the statin’s cholesterol lowering effects.  This is shown in the below study:

Below “C” is the control showing levels of cholesterol (white bar) on the left and ubiquinone (CoQ10) striped bars on the right.  “S” shows what happens to cholesterol and CoQ10 levels when statins are added.  “GG” is GG added to the control.   “GG+S” is GG and statin together showing restoration of CoQ10. This is remarkable!

Statins Cause Muscle Damage-GG Restores It!

Statins can cause myopathy or muscle damage by interrupting protein synthesis in the Mevalonate Pathway.  However, as seen in the study below, when a person takes GG while on a statin, the GG increased normal production of muscle cells, reversed the statin associated cytotoxicity of muscle cells, and rescued the detrimental effects of muscle atrophy as seen in the pictures below.  This is remarkable!

GG Reverses Bisphosphonates Side Effects 

Bisphosphonates  medications used for Osteoporosis cause Osteonecrosis of the Jaw because of inhibiting the Mevalonate Pathway in a different place than statins (see figure 1).  Good news is GG can restore the bone.  This is because GG decreases bone resorption and synthesizes Vitamin K2 to help build strong bones.

GG Needed to Synthesize Vitamin K2-MK4 for Bone Health

GG makes MK4 in the human body.  MK4  is found in the phospholipid membrane of the cell.  It is the most abundant form of vitamin K in the human body.  GG was shown to inhibit bone resorption to maintain bone structure similar to taking vitamin K2- MK4.

GG studied in mice models showed GG protected bone microstructure, quality of bone structure, and significantly improved bone turnover making it essential for maintaining healthy bone.

 

Multiple other Uses for GG as per Mice and Rat Models 

  • Decreases Inflammation by 2-7 times
  • Decreases Acne
  • Pain Reduction by GG
  • Decreases pain
    • Acute pain by 40-60% in 5 min, and chronic pain by 50-90% in 15-30 minutes.
    • Rheumatoid arthritis pain by 40% in 2 weeks.
    • Burn pain by 65% in 5 minutes, which was > 10% better than morphine!!!
    • Gastritis pain by 50-60% in 15 minutes.
    • Pressure pain by 15-20 % in 2-3 hours
  • GG combined with acetone helps fight Hep C, Influenzas, Gastric Ulcers, and ALS!!
  • GG plus COOH (carboxylic acid) will help prevent and or possibly treat Hep C and Liver Cancer
  • GG plus OH (alcohol) has potential anti-viral properties, anti-influenza properties and has been shown to treat Leishmaniasis, Tuberculosis, and Staph aureus.

 

Conclusion

“Geranylgeraniol (GG) is a biochemical compound synthesized endogenously in the human body via the mevalonate pathway—the same biochemical pathway producing cholesterol, vitamin K2, steroid hormones such as testosterone (progesterone) and ubiquinone (CoQ10). As such, it plays many critical roles in tissue systems and metabolic processes throughout the body, including healthy mitochondrial function and generation of ATP, which is the currency of energy in all mammals including humans. GG occurs naturally in various foods, but the majority of our GG is synthesized endogenously.  GG is an essential building block of life supporting muscle health, bone health, hormone regulation and nutrient synthesis.”

GG production declines with aging, statins, and bisphosphonates via inhibiting the Mevalonate Pathway.

“By replenishing natural levels,

  • GG can protect age-related physical decline,
  • help mitigate side effects of statins while maintaining lowered cholesterol levels,
  • help mitigate side effects of bisphosphonates while restoring normal bone,
  • maintain structural bone support,
  • reverse skeletal muscle fatigue and support muscle volume.”

Certainly, many can benefit from its use, especially as we age.  This truly is an ancient and miraculous biomolecule.

Have an awesome day, Dr D

Posted in Anti-Aging