α-Eleostearic acid, a fatty acid from bitter melon and tung tree seeds, is studied to clear worn-out cells that build up with age by driving oxidation of their own membranes. Its cell-clearing evidence comes only from cell and mouse work by one group with a financial interest. No person has knowingly taken the purified compound in a published study, and human data on related forms carry signals of harm. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Serum ferritin | 30–300 µg/L in men, 15–200 µg/L in women | Safety check: high iron amplifies the mechanism |
| Transferrin saturation | 20–50% | Safety check: circulating iron that drives membrane oxidation |
| Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) | ALT 7–55 IU/L, AST 8–48 IU/L | Safety check: AST rose slightly in conjugated linoleic acid trials |
| Fasting glucose | 70–99 mg/dL | Safety check: rose in conjugated linoleic acid trials |
| Full blood count (haemoglobin, red-cell indices) | Haemoglobin 13.2–16.6 g/dL in men, 11.6–15.0 g/dL in women | Safety check: a falling haemoglobin signals red-cell destruction |
| Urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α | No established target; track change from the individual's own baseline | Marks whole-body lipid peroxidation |
| Interleukin-6 (IL-6) | No established target; track change from the individual's own baseline | Senescent-cell inflammatory signal |
Cadence: Baseline iron panel with ferritin and transferrin saturation, liver enzymes, fasting glucose and full blood count before any exposure; liver enzymes and fasting glucose at the end of each course and again four weeks later; iron panel every six to twelve months.