Collagen, Aspirin, Vitamin K2 (MK-4), B1, B7

Aspirin (Low-Dose)

Beyond its common use as a painkiller, a low-dose daily aspirin is a powerful bioenergetic tool. It acts as a multi-pronged metabolic modulator, directly combating several of the core drivers of dysfunction.

• Mechanism: Aspirin is a potent COX and LOX inhibitor, meaning it directly blocks the enzymes that convert dietary PUFAs into inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. It also inhibits 11β-HSD1, the enzyme that creates active cortisol, and has been shown in studies to lower fat oxidation by up to 30%, helping to alleviate the Randle Cycle gridlock. It also acts as a mild metabolic uncoupler at higher doses.

• Dosage & Type: A "baby aspirin" dose (typically 81mg in the US) is the standard. It is often recommended to dissolve it in warm water before consumption to minimize potential gut irritation. Ray Peat recommended a ratio of 1mg of Vitamin K per 325mg of aspirin to mitigate mucosal or systemic bleeding risks.

Glycine/Collagen

The modern diet, with its over-emphasis on muscle meats, creates a profound amino acid imbalance that drives inflammation and metabolic stress. Supplementing with glycine, primarily through collagen or gelatin, is the ancestral solution to this modern problem.

• Mechanism: Glycine serves two critical roles. First, it balances the high BCAA and Tryptophan content of muscle meats, reducing the raw material for both reductive stress and serotonin production. Second, it acts as a direct detoxification agent through "glycine conjugation," a process where it binds to excess, toxic acyl-CoA groups that build up in the muscle during fatty acid oxidation, allowing them to be safely excreted. This directly relieves reductive stress.

• Dosage & Type: The goal is to get a significant portion of your daily protein from these sources. A simple guideline is consuming enough collagen/gelatin to make up at least one-third of your total protein intake. This can be achieved through bone broth, gelatin powders mixed into drinks, or collagen peptide supplements.

Vitamin K2 (as MK-4)

Vitamin K2, specifically the MK-4 form, is a crucial fat-soluble vitamin that acts as a dual-action metabolic regulator. Its importance is highlighted by one of the highest correlations found in nutritional research: high vitamin K2 levels and low incidence of cancer.

• Mechanism: Its most famous role is as a "traffic cop" for calcium, directing it into bones and teeth and keeping it out of soft tissues like arteries where it causes calcification. Bioenergetically, it also plays a vital role within the mitochondria. It can act as an alternative electron carrier, helping to shuttle electrons and regenerate NAD⁺ when the main electron transport chain is congested. This provides another escape valve to alleviate reductive stress.

• Dosage & Type: The MK-4 form is the most bioactive for these purposes.

Key B-Vitamins (B1 & B7)

While Niacinamide (B3) is a foundational tool for boosting NAD⁺, a targeted combination of B-vitamins, as demonstrated in Georgi Dinkov's cancer research, forms a powerful synergistic trio for unblocking the most common bottlenecks in glucose metabolism.

• Thiamine (B1): This is the master key for glucose oxidation. Thiamine is the primary and essential cofactor for the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (PDH) enzyme. A deficiency in B1 creates a hard bottleneck at the gate between glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, forcing pyruvate to become lactate and bringing efficient energy production to a grinding halt. Standard protocols utilize 300–500mg of thiamine chloride or 100–150mg of lipophilic analogs (e.g., benfotiamine), which has been shown to halve lactate buildup during physical exertion.

• Biotin (B7): If PDH is blocked, Biotin supports the emergency escape route. It is a cofactor for the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase, which provides a backup pathway for pyruvate, helping to prevent it from all being shunted to lactate and allowing it to support other metabolic functions. It helps the cell manage the traffic jam caused by a blocked PDH.

Together with Niacinamide (B3), this B-vitamin trio (1, 3, and 7) provides comprehensive support for every critical step of converting glucose into clean, efficient energy.