64 | id == 64
64 | category_id == 9
64 | category_order == 6
64 | category_name == Longevity
64 | category_color == #C47AC0
64 | slug == CFH-Longevity
64 | title == Can This Gene Influence your Lifespan? (CFH)
64 | meta_description == CFH blocks the complement system and may prevent its negative effects on lifespan. Learn more about your CFH variant here!
64 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The complement system helps the immune system fight infections &mdash; but its uncontrolled activation is associated with diseases that may shorten your lifespan. The <em>CFH</em> gene blocks the complement system, thereby protecting against its negative effects. Read on to find out how your <em>CFH</em> variants may affect your life expectancy!</strong></p>
64 | overall_score_text == Longevity Score (based on CFH)
64 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/CFH_Longevity.jpg
64 | author_id == 12
64 | author_name == Carlos Tello
64 | author_title == PhD
64 | author_order == 55
64 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/CarlosTello.webp
64 | author_intro == <p><strong>Carlos received his PhD and MS from the Universidad de Sevilla.</strong></p>    <p>Carlos spent 9 years in the laboratory investigating mineral transport in plants. He then started working as a freelancer, mainly in science writing, editing, and consulting. Carlos is passionate about learning the mechanisms behind biological processes and communicating science to both academic and non-academic audiences. He strongly believes that scientific literacy is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid falling for scams.</p>
64 | author_social_media_name == linkedin
64 | author_social_media_icon == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/social-icon/linkedin.png
64 | author_social_order == 1
64 | author_social_link == https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-tello-lacal-b946b4a7/
64 | reviewer_id == 4
64 | reviewer_name == Matt Carland
64 | reviewer_title == PhD
64 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
64 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
64 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
64 | publish_date == 2019
64 | publish_date == 10
64 | publish_date == 26
64 | avg_rating == 5.0
64 | tags_id == 192
64 | tags_name == Cardiovascular Disease
64 | tags_id == 197
64 | tags_name == CFH Gene
64 | tags_id == 198
64 | tags_name == Complement System
64 | tags_id == 134
64 | tags_name == Heart Disease
64 | tags_id == 95
64 | tags_name == Immune System
64 | tags_id == 101
64 | tags_name == Longevity
64 | permissions_favorite == False
64 | permissions_rate == False
64 | content_article == <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The immune system is essential to prevent diseases caused by invading microbes (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">pathogens</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">). One of the ways it fights off infections is by promoting inflammation. Unfortunately, chronic or uncontrolled inflammation can have negative consequences on the body, and may even reduce </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lifestyle-diet-increase-longevity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lifespan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For this reason, it&rsquo;s important to fine-tune the immune system so that it&rsquo;s only activated when needed. In this post, we will be looking at the </span><a href="../../gene/cfh/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">(</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">complement</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">factor H</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) gene, which can be a key player in inflammation by blocking some of the processes that trigger the immune response [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6000180/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Complement System</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The immune system is a complex network with multiple pathways. One of them is called the &ldquo;complement system&rdquo; because it supports (or &ldquo;</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">complements</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">&rdquo;) the function of other immune components. The main functions of the complement system are to trigger inflammation and target pathogens for elimination by </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-and-decrease-white-blood-cells/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">white blood cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27100/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3097465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The complement system can be activated in three different ways [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3097465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5776047/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &ldquo;classical&rdquo; pathway: activated when antibodies recognize pathogens</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lectins-beneficial-harmful/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lectin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> pathway: activated when lectins recognize pathogens</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &ldquo;alternative&rdquo; pathway: activates itself when its key component, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, changes its structure, either spontaneously or in response to infections&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although each of them is important to the immune system, CFH specifically blocks the &ldquo;alternative&rdquo; pathway.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this pathway, C3 binds to another protein called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">factor B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to form the enzyme </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3 convertase</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This enzyme converts inactive C3 into its two active forms [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3097465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16026839"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/c3a/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3a</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a strong pro-inflammatory protein</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>C3b</em>, which enhances pathogen elimination by white blood cells and binds to factor B to produce more C3 convertase</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3 convertase also triggers the production of other pro-inflammatory and antimicrobial proteins (such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/c4a/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C4a</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C5a</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C5b</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">membrane attack complex</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK27100/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3097465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h1 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What Does the </strong><strong><em>CFH</em></strong><strong> Gene Do?</strong></h1> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene encodes a key regulator also called CFH that blocks the alternative pathway. CFH reduces C3 convertase production through two mechanisms [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC431003/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2190448/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Preventing the binding of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">factor B</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3b</span></em></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Promoting the deactivation of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3b</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (by a protein called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">complement factor I</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">)</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, CFH blocks an activator of the alternative pathway: </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/c-reactive-protein/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C-reactive protein</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (CRP) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2193350/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19144569/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, variants in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene determine its ability to block the complement system. How may this be important for longevity? Well, the immune system can contribute to diseases depending on how and when inflammation is triggered.&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two ways by which chronic immune system activation can be harmful is by directly damaging the tissues or causing the build-up of immune system waste products. This may have an impact on your overall health and, ultimately, on your lifespan [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6000180/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene codes for </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">complement factor H</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a protein that blocks the activation of the &ldquo;complement system&rdquo;. This may protect the tissues from chronic inflammation, ultimately increasing lifespan.</span></span></p> <h1 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>CFH </em></strong><strong>Results for Longevity</strong></h1> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene has a lot of known polymorphisms, most people will probably have a mix of variants that each increase or decrease the activation of the complement system. It&rsquo;s therefore important to look at as many SNPs as possible to see which way you lean.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, polymorphisms in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene can have different effects in specific parts of the body. This is probably why some individual SNPs in this gene have been associated with various specific health conditions, as we will discuss below.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nevertheless, all these conditions have been reported to involve the immune response in one way or another. Therefore, looking at these SNPs together may give you some insight into your overall immune system function.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotypes for some select </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> SNPs in the table below. However, keep in mind that these results are based on association studies suggesting that certain genetic variants are relatively more common in people with certain health outcomes. More research will still be needed to know what role, if any, these variants may play in actually </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">causing</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> these health outcomes. Therefore, just because you have one of these genotypes does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing one of the specific medical or health conditions, it has been linked to!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*5366157092953414*</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CFH </em></strong><a href="../../snp/rs1061170/"><strong>rs1061170</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Relatively more common among longer-lived people.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Relatively less common among longer-lived people.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Almost 56% of the world population has &lsquo;TT&rsquo; (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">homozygous major</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only 0.6% of people with East Asian ancestry have &lsquo;CC&rsquo; (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">homozygous minor</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">).</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Other Important SNPs:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>CFH </em></strong><a href="../../snp/rs1061147/"><strong>rs1061147</strong></a><strong>:</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Relatively more common among people with end-stage kidney damage.</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</span></em></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Relatively less common among people with end-stage kidney damage.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">36% of the world population has one copy of each allele (the &ldquo;</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">heterozygous</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">&rdquo; genotype).</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">91% of East Asian descendants have &lsquo;CC&rsquo;.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*4864785650423522*</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Out of the above SNPs, the only polymorphism that has been </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">directly</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> associated with longevity is </span><a href="../../snp/rs1061170/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1061170</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Almost 45% of the world population has at least one copy of its minor &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele, which makes the CFH protein less able to block the complement system activator CRP (which could in turn contribute to increased overall immune system activity) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4853917/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The minor &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele has been associated with reduced lifespan in a follow-up study on 90-year-olds. The authors of this study proposed that long-term hyperactivation of the immune system may end up reducing its ability to fight off infections (which can be especially dangerous in older age) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19000922"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Regarding this SNP&rsquo;s links to death from heart disease, the results are mixed. One study in people above 85 years old reported an association of the minor &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele with an increased mortality rate from heart disease [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17869048"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. However, while some studies found an increased frequency of heart disease in carriers of this allele, others found no association [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18604638"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16630992"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16229850"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17396242"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. A meta-analysis even concluded that the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele may only be associated with higher blood triglyceride levels, rather than any direct effect on heart disease or lifespan itself [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20708732"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, a study associated the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele with increased mortality rates from strokes. According to this study&rsquo;s authors, the resulting over-activation of the immune system may contribute to worse medical outcomes in stroke patients by damaging </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/increase-decrease-red-blood-cells/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">red blood cells</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and weakening the blood-brain barrier &mdash; each of which could worsen bleeding in the brain and make it harder for the brain to recover [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21871809"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">All in all, a number of studies provide suggestive evidence for this SNP&rsquo;s association with overall lifespan, although more research will still be needed to figure out for sure what exact mechanisms might be responsible for producing these differences in longevity.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The only </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">polymorphism directly linked to longevity is rs1061170. Although the exact effects of this SNP are still being investigated, the minor &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele has been associated with overall mortality, as well as with increased risk of death from more specific causes such as stroke. This allele has also been associated with heart disease &mdash; but only in some studies.</span></span></p> <h1 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Indirect Associations of </strong><strong><em>CFH</em></strong><strong> Variants With Longevity</strong></h1> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Kidney Failure</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kidney failure is a serious complication of many inflammatory diseases (such as lupus or Berger&rsquo;s disease). If left untreated, it can lead to death.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The major allele (&lsquo;C&rsquo;) of </span><a href="../../snp/rs1061147/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1061147</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> produces a version of the CFH protein less likely to bind to </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">C3b</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and block the complement system. This allele was associated with end-stage kidney disease in older African Americans (roughly 60+ years of age, both diabetic and non-diabetic) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4081633/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other polymorphisms in this gene (such as rs1061170, </span><a href="../../snp/rs1065489/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1065489</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="../../snp/rs6677604/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs6677604</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="../../snp/rs800292/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs800292</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) have been linked to increased chances of kidney damage from lupus, Berger&rsquo;s disease, and diabetes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28403670"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4081633/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29523638"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3102741/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29240274"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30219152"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. However, their overall contribution to longevity based on their associations to these specific health conditions remains unclear, which is why we have not analyzed these SNPs here &mdash; but we will update this post as science uncovers more about these variants!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">All in all, while this SNP has not been directly linked with longevity </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">per se</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, some studies suggest that it may indirectly affect overall lifespan by increasing the risk of certain potentially serious health problems &mdash; especially in older age.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The major allele &lsquo;C&rsquo; of rs1061147 has been associated with end-stage kidney failure in African Americans. Other polymorphisms of this gene have been linked to kidney damage but their overall contribution to longevity remains unclear.</span></p> <h1 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Strategies that May Help Extend Your Lifespan</strong></h1> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The field of longevity research is complex and controversial. Because some strategies that increase CFH activity or block the complement system could have unexpected interactions or other side effects, make sure to talk to your doctor before making any significant changes to your lifestyle or diet!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*5825350413043806*</strong></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The best way to increase your chances of living longer &mdash; despite having the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele of rs1061170 &mdash; is by giving up smoking. For example, carrying at least one copy of this allele was associated with increased rates of lung cancer and heart attack in smokers (who are already at significantly increased risk overall). Additionally, smoking reduces lifespan by speeding up aging and increasing the likelihood of many major diseases [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22197220"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4731447/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16630992"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Moderate </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is also associated with increased lifespan and delayed aging [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23063021"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. In addition to its many general health benefits, exercise might even be particularly beneficial to people with genetic variants that reduce </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression. For example, one study reported that practicing tai chi increased blood CFH levels in 23 healthy Chinese adults [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19884489"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, more research will be needed to know for sure whether these effects on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> might apply to other forms of exercise as well.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise also helps </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lose weight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4304884/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. Burning fat stores has been associated with lower CRP levels and reduced activation of the complement system, which may be especially beneficial to people with the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele of rs1061170 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24754458"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">All in all, while further research will be needed to confirm whether exercise has any direct effects on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the many known health benefits of exercise make it an excellent choice even if it doesn&rsquo;t target </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> directly!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Improving </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-sleep/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sleep</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> quality may also benefit those with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants that over-activate the complement system. For example, poor sleep quality has been associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers, including some components of this system (such as C3 and C4) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5021955/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26354106"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once again, more research will be needed to fully confirm these suggestive findings &mdash; but getting a good night&rsquo;s rest is always a good idea when it comes to supporting your overall health!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Giving up smoking, doing moderate exercise, losing weight, and improving sleep quality are all excellent ways to promote overall longevity &mdash; and some research suggests that they may even counteract some of the negative effects of <em>CFH</em> variants, although more research will be needed to say for sure.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one study, high blood </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was associated with higher rates of heart attacks in people with two copies of the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele at rs1061170. People with this genotype often have higher triglyceride levels as well. Eating a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats reduces the risk of heart disease, and therefore may be especially beneficial to people with this </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variant [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16630992"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20708732"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, not all fats are necessarily bad! For example, consuming more </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">omega-3</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> fatty acids can reduce blood triglycerides and CRP levels, thereby potentially reducing inflammation as well as the overall risk of heart disease. In line with this, some studies have suggested that the Mediterranean diet &mdash; which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/olive-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">olive oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> &mdash; may reduce CRP production after meals [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25899092"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18348080"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4555130/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16276071"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Including enough essential vitamins (such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/importance-real-vitamin-retinol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-vitamin-c-32-science-based-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">C</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-e-deficiency/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">E</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) and minerals (especially </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/21-proven-science-based-reasons-magnesium-amazing-including-drawbacks/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">magnesium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-selenium/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">selenium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) in one&rsquo;s diet may also help block the complement system in people with under-active </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants. For example, multiple studies have associated eating sufficient amounts of these nutrients with lower blood CRP and C3 levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3833870/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24174622"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19717151"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7328444"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4592026/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25669317"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3975661/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26743526"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Some evidence suggests that eating a diet low in cholesterol, rich in healthy fats, and which provides sufficient vitamins and minerals may help increase longevity in people with underactive <em>CFH </em>variants. However, more research will be required to understand exactly how (and how <em>much</em>) these strategies might help.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one animal study, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/curcumin-cures-top-15-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">curcumin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reduced inflammation (and kidney damage) in genetically-engineered mice unable to produce </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Although this was only reported in animals, such a finding could suggest that curcumin may be beneficial to people with under-active variants of this protein [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3701179/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. Nonetheless, further studies will be needed to confirm these effects in humans.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is also some early evidence from human studies suggesting that other supplements might help block the complement system, which could potentially help compensate for having a low-activity </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> genotype. Specifically, these substances may block the complement system by reducing the levels of some of its key components, such as <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/c3a/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C3</a>, <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/c4a/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">C4</a>, factor B, and <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/c-reactive-protein/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CRP</a>. Such substances include:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Folate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27450552"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20143872"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/astaxanthin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Astaxanthin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2845588/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/milk-thistle/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Milk thistle</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Silybum marianum</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">; both alone and combined with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/red-yeast-rice/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">red yeast rice</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/policosanol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">octacosanol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25765835"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19139781"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25001663"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/pomegranate/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pomegranate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> extract [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26850805"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ginkgo-biloba/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ginkgo</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25463092"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several supplements may help block the complement pathway in people with underactive </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">CFH</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants, but additional research is required.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
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64 | content_learn_more_4864785650423522_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your CFH gene makes you likely to have an average lifespan. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your potential longevity — just one gene related to it. Exercise, sleep, a healthy diet, and supplements may help. Keep reading to find out more!
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rsIDs = rs6677604,rs1061170,rs1065489,rs1061147,rs800292
rsStatus = rs6677604,CFH,chr1,196717788,G,A,,,34,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1061170,CFH,chr1,196690107,C,A,G,T,35,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1065489,CFH,chr1,196740644,G,T,,,28,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1061147,CFH,chr1,196685194,A,C,G,T,19,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs800292,CFH,chr1,196673103,G,A,,,22,0,Normal
