Summary: C60 is used with stearic acid to increase the pool of stem cells.
Background: Stem cells predominately divide asymmetrically into 2 daughter cells, one a somatic cell the other a stem cell. Theoretically this would keep the population stable, but over a lifetime it does not, and the falling population becomes a major source of aging.
From The Stem Cell Theory of Aging (Wikipedia) —
The number of stem cells in young people is very much higher than older people and this cause a better and more efficient replacement mechanism in the young contrary to the old. In other words, aging is not a matter of the increase of damage, but a matter of failure to replace it due to decreased number of stem cells. Stem cells decrease in number and tend to lose the ability to differentiate into progenies or lymphoid lineages and myeloid lineages.
https://en.wikipedia...theory_of_aging
C60 stimulates mitochondria, and mitochondrial activity drives the activity of stem cells. Anecdotal reports (including my own) suggest that C60 is a powerful stimulant of stem cells, but the effect appears to fade, as if the stem cell pool is being depleted. In my opinion depletion of stem cells is second only to mitochondrial dysfunction in importance for aging. (Mito dysfunction can be reversed—see the thread, Manipulating Mitochondrial Dynamics.)
Increasing the SC pool: While stem cells generally divide asymmetrically, symmetric division is also possible, wherein one stem cell divides into two stem cells, called self-renewal. It appears that mitochondria direct the process. When mitochondria are in a state of fusion, symmetric proliferation is more common, thus increasing the population.
… we present a model whereby changes in mitochondrial structure direct the fate of stem cells. In this model, elongated [fused] mitochondria in NSCs [neural stem cells] maintain low ROS levels and promote self-renewal, while a transition of mitochondria to a more fragmented state [fissioned] results in a modest increase in ROS levels, thereby inducing the expression of genes that inhibit self-renewal and promote commitment and differentiation.
https://www.scienced...934590916300820
Supplement for fusion: C18:0 — stearic acid.
Regulation of mitochondrial morphology and function by Stearoylation of TfR1
“We find that animal cells are poised to respond to both increases and decreases in C18:0 levels, with increased C18:0 dietary intake boosting mitochondrial fusion in vivo.”
My experiment: I’m presently using 10 g of stearic acid (120 mg/kg) and 1 teaspoon of C60 in olive oil half an hour later, doing this once a week or so. The oil is my own mix from 2016, which I’d stored in the freezer. It contained 0.6 mg/kg of C60 in Frantoio Pruneti EVOO which tested at 608 mg/polyphenols (mostly oleuropein), to which I added 1400 mg/kg hydroxytyrosol (HT). This oil with extra HT proved to be one of the better of my olive oil experiments for exercise.
Results: When I first tried C60 in 2012 I noted hair regrowth that filled in a bald spot to about 50% of the density of the rest of my hair. This faded slowly over a period of a year, and while there was some variability over the succeeding years, it seemed that something had changed, as if some easily stimulated stem cells had been used up. I noted physical changes as well, with my shoe size increasing from 9.5 to 10.5 over those years and my height increasing by one inch. The rate of these changes was slowing (with my use of C60 amounting to around 50-100mg/year), but are now increasing again, and the bald spot is filling in. It’s not to the point it was in 2012, but it’s better than at any point since then. I have also used a fusion mix topically, and this may have added to the hair regrowth. I can’t say for certain which is more responsible, as I did both oral and topical.
Oral dosing: Stearic acid is available as white waxy flakes. It can be consumed in a cup of hot chocolate if sufficient amount of lecithin is added (I use roughly equal amounts). It can also be stirred into hot foods such as oatmeal, or used in fudge or cookies.
Topical application: An oil with high levels of stearic acid is needed. As none are available, you can make your own using either olive oil or MCT oil with 30-40% added stearic acid (warmed to over 157F to melt it), then stirring in a little C60/EVOO before use. The high stearic acid oil should resemble coconut oil in that it is solid when cool but melts at skin temp. This should only be used at night due to the photosensitivity of C60. I’ve only used stearic acid in MCT oil to date, however MCT oil may cause inflammation for those with sensitive skin.
Edited by Turnbuckle, 29 March 2018 - 03:10 PM.