A Pioneer in the Field of Free Radical Biology – Dr. Joe McCord

What do Dr. Joe McCord, Henry Ford, Orville Wright, Alexander Graham Bell, and Pierre and Marie Curie have in common?   They were awarded an Elliott Cresson Medal by The Franklin Institute.  “Among science's highest honors, The Franklin Institute Awards identify individuals whose great innovation has benefited humanity, advanced science, launched new fields of inquiry, and deepened our understanding of the universe” (source:  The Franklin Institute).

Who is Dr. Joe McCord?  He is a biochemist and currently serves as a professor in the department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Genetics at the University of Colorado at Denver.  He was given the Elliott Cresson Medal for his discovery, along with Dr. Irwin Fridovich, of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD).

What is superoxide dismutase or SOD?   Wikipedia describes superoxide dismutases as “enzymes that catalyze the dismutation of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.  Thus, they are an important antioxidant defense in nearly all cells exposed to oxygen.”  In more simple terms, SOD helps our bodies protect against the damage caused by free radicals.

What are free radicals?  Free radicals are created when our bodies produce energy in our cells from the food we eat and the oxygen we breathe.  Like the exhaust fumes from the combustion in our car engine, oxidative stress and free radicals are a damaging byproduct when our cells create energy.  Over time, oxidation damages our car engines.  In our bodies, oxidation or free radicals damage our cells at the level of our DNA! 

Why is Dr. McCord’s award significant?  Prior to Dr. McCord’s discovery of SOD, medical scientists were not aware of oxidative stress and free radical damage in the body.  Dr. McCord’s discovery opened a new field of medical science called free radical biology.  Medical researchers have become increasingly aware of the importance of free radical damage or oxidative stress.  Many believe that oxidative stress is linked to numerous diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases (Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's), and cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, heart failure, myocardial infarction).

Has science demonstrated a way to increase SOD?  Yes!  Clinical studies have shown that the nutritional supplement called Protandim®, a Nrf2 Synergizer™, increases levels of SOD by 30%.  Importantly, Protandim has been shown to increase other antioxidant enzymes like catalase by 54% and glutathione by 300%. 

Studies have demonstrated that Protandim® increases the effectiveness of its five natural ingredients (green tea, turmeric, milk thistle, bacopa, and ashwagandha) 18 times compared to simply taking the ingredients individually.

In short, it has been shown that taking Protandim® once a day for 30 days reduces oxidative stress by an average of 40%.  In clinical trials testing for markers of oxidative stress, scientists could not distinguish the blood of an 80 year old from a 20 year old!

What is Dr. McCord’s connection to Protandim?  Dr. McCord helped formulate the patented all-natural ingredients in Protandim®.

In our next blog, we will share some of the stories of people who have experienced remarkable benefits from Protandim® and the anti-aging skin cream TrueScience®. 

For more information on Protandim® and TrueScience®, contact David Zuza at 248-990-6116 or email me at  strata.z@sbcglobal.net. 

Enjoy the holiday weekend.  Be safe and stay healthy!