DuggaDugga
Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2017
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- 204
Not a lot of discussion related to geranylgeraniol (GG) yet on the forum so I am starting this thread to initiate discourse on available literature, supplementation strategies, and anecdotal experience.
Endogenously, geranylgeranyl-PP is produced through the mevalonate pathway, which most are aware of because it is how we produce cholesterol and CoQ10 and is the target of statins (ie, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors).
( Figure 3. Simple schematic of the mevalonate pathway showing that... )
In I-10 cell lines (mouse; testis tissue) have been shown to have enhanced testosterone and progesterone production levels in response to GGOH.
( https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09168451.2017.1415129 )
GG is a precursor to CoQ10.
GG supplementation may hold some unique advantages to CoQ10 supplementation, given its relative ease of absorption and "loose" regulation of the ubiquinone synthesis pathway.
( Geranylgeraniol (GG) Boosts Endogenous Synthesis of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Cell Essential Metabolites, Overcoming CoQ10 Supplementation Limitations)
GGOH apparently has a unique/complementary pathway from MK-4 on osteoclast inhibition.
( X. Fu, S.L. Booth, in Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition (Third Edition), 2013 )
( Geranylgeraniol - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics)
( https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09168451.2017.1415129 )
Overall, GG seems like an interesting "flex" player -- inhibiting soft tissue calcification, promoting testosterone, and promoting CoQ10, among other things.
I am considering supplementing GG with the goal of increasing my testosterone, improving recovery from weight training, and inhibiting soft tissue calcification (with the scalp of highest interest). I intend to take before and after labs.
More to come - curious what others have to say.
Endogenously, geranylgeranyl-PP is produced through the mevalonate pathway, which most are aware of because it is how we produce cholesterol and CoQ10 and is the target of statins (ie, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors).
( Figure 3. Simple schematic of the mevalonate pathway showing that... )
In I-10 cell lines (mouse; testis tissue) have been shown to have enhanced testosterone and progesterone production levels in response to GGOH.
"GGOH enhanced testosterone and progesterone (its precursor) levels in I-10 cells by activating adenylate cyclase via cAMP/PKA signaling, without altering phosphodiesterase activity. These findings highlight the potential benefits of GGOH as a therapeutic agent for low testosterone levels, such as late-onset hypogonadism in men."
( https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09168451.2017.1415129 )
GG is a precursor to CoQ10.
GG supplementation may hold some unique advantages to CoQ10 supplementation, given its relative ease of absorption and "loose" regulation of the ubiquinone synthesis pathway.
GG’s molecular weight is one-third of CoQ10’s, with a lipophilic hydrocarbon tail (see Fig. 3). GG is likely well absorbed in the GI tract since in vitro studies showed it diffuses inside cells with no need of adjuvants. This is in contrast with CoQ10, which needs to be solubilized and emulsified for absorption in the intestine, for skin topicals or inside cells in-vitro.
Supplementation of cells with GG upregulates enzymatic reactions downstream from mevalonate, by mass action, resulting in increased synthesis of ubiquinone and other essential cell-signaling mediators (see Fig. 2).24,25 Fortunately, the ubiquinone synthesis pathway is not tightly regulated, as is that of cholesterol, thus it can be upregulated by increased substrate concentration (Fig. 4). This opens the possibility to correct age-related decline in COQ10 and other metabolites derived from GG, in all tissues.
( Geranylgeraniol (GG) Boosts Endogenous Synthesis of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Cell Essential Metabolites, Overcoming CoQ10 Supplementation Limitations)
GGOH apparently has a unique/complementary pathway from MK-4 on osteoclast inhibition.
MK-4 and its isolated geranyl-geraniol side chain was also able to suppress the synthesis of prostaglandin E2, which is a potent bone resorption catalyst.
( X. Fu, S.L. Booth, in Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition (Third Edition), 2013 )
( Geranylgeraniol - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics)
GGOH improves the side effects of bisphosphonate therapy by regulating the MVP and inhibiting osteoclast formation
( https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09168451.2017.1415129 )
Overall, GG seems like an interesting "flex" player -- inhibiting soft tissue calcification, promoting testosterone, and promoting CoQ10, among other things.
I am considering supplementing GG with the goal of increasing my testosterone, improving recovery from weight training, and inhibiting soft tissue calcification (with the scalp of highest interest). I intend to take before and after labs.
More to come - curious what others have to say.