Compositions and methods for treating aging and/or improving human health

#It has been reported that physical decline associated with aging in humans occurs as early as the third decade of life. Body functions are believed to peak before age 30, which is then followed by a gradual and continuous decline. Besdine, R. W., Changes in the Body with Aging, MERCK MANUALS, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, 2018, available at www.merckmanuals.com/home/older-people%E2%80%99s-health-issues/the-aging-body/changes-in-the-body-with-aging (last visited Jun. 20, 2018).

#Bone density in men and women, for example, begins to diminish from about age 30 and accelerates in women after menopause. Villa-Forte, Effects of Aging on the Musculoskeletal System, MERCK MANUALS, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, 2018, available at www.merckmanuals.com/home/bone,-joint,-and-muscle-disorders/biology-of-the-musculoskeletal-system/effects-of-aging-on-the-musculoskeletal-system (last visited Jun. 20, 2018). The decrease in bone density often leads to development of osteoporosis as the individual ages. The decrease in bone density is also accompanied by a similar and gradual loss of muscle mass and strength, which often leads to arthritis. See Villa-Forte.

#Age-related loss of function occurs at the cellular level, as well as the level of the organs and body systems and affects not only the bones and muscles, but also the joints, body fat, the eyes, the ears, the mouth and nose, the skin, the brain and nervous system, the heart and blood vessels, the muscles involved in breathing, the lungs, the digestive system, the kidney and urinary tract, the reproductive system, the endocrine system, blood, and the immune system. See Besdine.

#The invention relates to treating aging and/or improving health. The invention is based on the discovery that MePA is an essential substance in the diet. More specifically, the invention is based on the discovery that aging and associated health decline and symptoms thereof are manifestations of a vitamin deficiency disease, in particular, a deficiency of methylphosphonic acid (MePA). Thus, the invention provides compositions and methods for treating aging and/or improving health. The invention provides compositions for human consumption that include MePA or a salt thereof and an ingredient acceptable for human consumption. The invention provides methods of use that involve providing or administering a composition that has MePA or a salt thereof and an ingredient acceptable for human consumption, as well as methods of use that involve providing or administering a nutritionally or pharmaceutically effective amount of MePA or a salt thereof.

#Methylphosphonic acid (MePA) refers to a compound of the formula CH3P(O)(OH)2. As used herein, the term “methylphosphonic acid” or “MePA” also includes methylphosphonate, the doubly negative ion resulting from loss of two protons from methylphosphonic acid, and hydrogen methylphosphonate, the singly negative ion resulting from loss of one proton from methylphosphonic acid.

#The invention provides for the use of MePA, as well as salts thereof. Examples of salts of MePA include alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts such as sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, or magnesium salts thereof. Salts of MePA may be obtained using standard procedures well known in the art.