After the Sarawak Report's revelations on the alleged use of public monies for anti-ageing products by certain parties - or as it is being touted in more market-friendly terms, healthy-ageing products - Malaysiakini takes a look at some of the treatments and supplements being used to fight the scourge.

What is anti-ageing?

Anti-ageing simply means what the phrase says. It describes measures done to try to arrest or reverse the signs and effects of ageing.

It is considered as preventive medicine by some for it deals not with diseases that threaten patients but rather with what some are afraid would occur, in this case growing and looking old.

Though some may argue, like plastic surgery, it is more about addressing personal vanities than any real medical condition as it seeks to treat problems it claimed will occur instead of symptoms of existing conditions.

Others describe it as a virtual honey pot used by practitioners to milk cash from the rich, worried about keeping themselves youthful, even if they are no longer young; the term 'placebo effect' cropping up now and then.

Though practitioners claim that they are helping people grow old gracefully by using technology to solve the primordial issue of the debilitating effects of old age.

Why are some people calling it healthy ageing?

Just like why global warming is now called climate change, it is part of the politically correct way of non-confrontational use of words.

It sounds more positive to say one is ageing healthily than saying one is trying not to look old. It also makes for better marketing sales pitch.

What are the treatments and supplements available?

A plethora of treatments are available, such as hormone treatment, stem cell injection, ozone blood treatment as well as various supplements.

Checks on online listings of clinics specialising in the anti-ageing lists a good number of Malaysian clinics across the country.

There are many doctors in this field in Malaysia, with even a society devoted to the anti-ageing practice in existence.

Are they certified to do what they do?

Some obtained certification from the American Board of Anti-Aging/Regenerative Medicine (ABAARM), which is trying to be the standard certification body in the field, much like accountants are certified by the various accountancy bodies.

There is also a local society formed by anti-aging practitioners seeking to promote this field of medicine, providing certification and courses, as well as organising talks and seminars on the issue.

What are hormone treatments?

This refers to the introduction of hormones into the body to overcome what experts claim are the loss of hormones as age takes hold over our bodies.

It is argued that the diminishing hormones due to advancing age will lead to various ill-effects. It is also claimed that introducing hormones will restore health and vitality.

It can be done via minor procedures to introduce the hormones directly into the body or the use of supplements that contain hormones.

It varies with the kinds of treatments: some hormones are harvested from humans, cadavers and organs or cultured in labs.

However, there are reports that the direct introduction of harvested hormones into the body might leave dangerous residues in the organs and body and cause undesirable side-effects.

What are embryonic stem cells and how do they help fight ageing?

The next best thing to actual human hormones is perhaps the use of embryonic stem cells, harvested either from unfertilised human eggs or from embryos which most pharmaceutical companies dealing in the matter claimed are leftovers from fertility treatments like invitro fertilisation.

Stem cells are the bare building blocks of the human body, being the original cells which made up the embryo and later dispersing to become the many organs that make up the human body.

Once harvested, the cells are then introduced directly into the patient's body via injections or minor surgeries and the theory is that the stem cells will rejuvenate the areas it is introduced into.

While we adults do have stem cells, it is specialised for each organ and not universal, and they do wear out with time. Reintroducing fresh stem cells would replenish the body's supply.

However, the use of stem cells of human origin is problematic religiously and culturally as it brings into question the ethical issue of when life begins and whether we are engaged in the act of killing when we harvest the stem cells that require the destruction of eggs and embryos.

What are plant stem cells?

Thus comes what is said to be the latest in healthy ageing supplements and treatments, the use of stem cells from plants.

According to available literature, plant stem cells are a better bet for anti-ageing use as it would avoid the moral and ethical question of embryonic stem cell use. It is also said to be safer as it does not generally leave harmful residues, though plant stem cells are not directly introduced into the patient's body.

Plant stem cells are refined into serum and are introduced via sprays unto skin, the nutrients from the stem cells rejuvenating patient cells, or in some cases the nutrients from the serum can also be extracted and delivered orally as meal supplements.

What is an example of a plant stem cell product used for anti-ageing?

One of the products claiming to utilise plant stem cells to promote healthy ageing in the market in Malaysia is GH-9 Honey supplement distributed by Milstaf Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd, which listed itself one of the ad hoc distributors for the product.

As its manufacturer Aaride Internationale Inc claims, GH-9 Honey stimulates the pituitary gland in the human body to release our own natural human growth factor HGH at optimum levels. This will in turn supplement the natural rejuvenation and gradual anti-ageing process.

This supplement was allegedly used by certain top Malaysian personalities.

GH-9 Honey is said to be completely biodegradable and there will be not be any residual deposits in the kidneys and liver like some anti-ageing medication like hormonal supplements, which are detrimental to the human body.

The product combines the health benefits of natural honey with plant stem cell serum, though despite it being supposedly safer, the product advisory states that its usage should not exceed the recommended dosage.

This was supposedly verified by the UK Biomedical research Centre (UKBRC) via a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study on the anti-ageing efficacy of the substance.

What are the age-fighting effects that GH-9 Honey can provide?

The company claims that the conducted study has found that consumption of GH-9 honey supplements can provide, amongst other things:

  • Enhanced sexual function and performance, particularly enhanced erectile function duration for men;
     
  • Enhanced skin moisture. Improvement in overall skin texture and complexion, increase in skin elasticity, reduction in facial wrinkles;
     
  • Cheerful mood and better reflexes. Better emotional stability. Improved memory and stress management levels;
     
  • Better sense of humour, enhanced mental alertness in completing targets, constructive thinking and optimistic attitude; and
     
  • Reduction in premenstrual tension and menopausal symptoms and reduction in brittle bones and hot flush for women.

What are other procedures available?

There are also procedures which harvest platelets from the patients to be injected into their faces to give a youthful glow or, fatty tissue harvested from the patients to be injected unto their skin to make it appear tauter and elastic by encouraging collagen production.

As for the ozone blood treatment, blood is removed from the patient, cleaned and then injected with oxygen-rich ozone before being returned to the patient's body. This supposedly will result in a healthier life experience as the newly rejuvenated blood is supposed to make the person's health better.

How much do these treatments cost?

The supplements can range from several hundred ringgit for the lower end or retail versions and can go up to the hundreds of thousands for the high end customised treatments that clinics or healthy ageing spas often tailor-made for the rich and famous.

But given that most people who seek these kinds of treatment are not lacking in their wallets, most often tend to be highly priced; the search for the fountain of youth, after all, is not a cheap endeavour.

Some supplements, for example, can cost upwards of a hundred thousand US dollars for one year's supply.

This instalment of KiniGuide is prepared by Hazlan Zakaria.