For Youth recently launched The Age Defence System, a three-step solution for cellular health and longevity.
“There are 12 complicated scientific reasons for ageing. But if you really drill that down, it comes down to three things that can fight ageing – cellular repair, cellular protection, and cellular cleansing,” said For Youth CEO and founder Jeff Duyvesteijn.
Slowing down the ageing process provides short-term benefits like more energy, improved sleep, and better skin. In the long run, it could also lower the risk of developing various health issues, added Duyvesteijn.
Therefore, the firm believes that the ageing process is something that one can take control of instead of “just letting it happen”. This is why For Youth aims to deliver simple, accessible solutions.
“Our mission is to make the science of longevity available to everyone, but also in a way that people can understand,” said Duyvesteijn.
Three simple science-backed solutions
The Age Defence System consists of three formulations designed to work together to combat ageing.
The first step is to boost and preserve NAD+, the molecule that cells need for energy and repair.
The Repair combines 450mg NMN and 50mg L-Tryptophan per dose to enhance NAD+ production, which naturally declines with age. It also includes 50mg Apigenin to slow NAD+ degradation.
Next is to shield cells from oxidative stress and environmental damage.
The Protect contains 250mg Glutathione and 100mg broccoli seed extract at 5% sulforaphane per dose – these two ingredients are meant to clear out free radicals and prevent cell damage.
Finally, The Cleanse promotes autophagy, the body’s natural cellular cleansing process. It also reduces inflammation and gets rid of senescent or ‘zombie’ cells to reset the body from within. This formulation contains 10mg spermidine, 250mg curcumin, and 250mg quercetin per dose.
Each of these solutions come in capsules and the ingredients are backed by clinical trials, said Duyvesteijn.
He drew attention to spermidine, which is the least well-known ingredient among For Youth’s offerings.
“Spermidine is increasingly popular because it provides the same benefits associated with keto diets, particularly autophagy, which involves cleansing the body from the inside. Essentially, keto diets aim to achieve what spermidine does. As a result, spermidine is likely to gain traction as an alternative to keto diets,” said Duyvesteijn.
“Additionally, the scientific evidence for spermidine is rather strong, particularly in terms of its bioavailability and benefits to the body,” said Dr Jan Gruber, For Youth’s chief scientist and associate professor at Yale-NUS.
He added that spermidine is not widely used in other brands, which makes it unique.
“We don’t want to offer products that are already widely available from well-known market players like GNC or Nature’s Way,” said Dr Gruber.
The aim is to develop a unique and effective system that can be used for any age group during adulthood, as it is never too early to start thinking about ageing, said Duyvesteijn.
Target audience
The brand’s core customer base is between 40 to 60 years old, primarily from the APAC region, including Malaysia and Australia.
For Youth classifies its consumers into three groups.
The largest demand for its products come from ‘the concerned’ group, who want to prevent age-related issues after seeing their loved ones age. This group are concerned for their own wellbeing, and they want to look out for their loved ones too, said Duyvesteijn.
‘The performers’ are in their prime, focused on stress management and sleep health, while ‘the lookers’ prioritise appearance.
Additionally, people in their 20s today are more conscious of ageing and long-term health compared to previous generations, who typically didn’t think about these issues at that age, observed Dr Gruber.
He believes this heightened awareness stems from a desire to maintain peak health and performance.
This is why the firm offers the freedom to use The Age Defence System on its own or stacked with other products.
Customising your own anti-ageing supplementation
For Youth’s approach allows consumers to start with The Age Defence System and customise their regimen by adding products tailored to their needs.
“The idea is to start with the Age Defence System as the foundation, then build a personalised supplement stack by adding products that address your individual needs. It’s a flexible system designed to complement each other,” said Duyvesteijn.
For example, the firm offers The Unwind to improve sleep quality, which is crucial for longevity. This formulation includes L-Theanine and Magnesium L-Threonate, which enhances sleep quality and supports cognitive function by promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
It also has other supplements that target metabolic and skin health.
Dr Gruber explained that multivitamins were excluded due to individual dosage preferences.
“Some may need higher amounts of certain vitamins and lower amounts of others. It makes more sense for users to choose their own multivitamins based on their needs.
“Also, many people are particular about their omega-3 supplements or already have preferred brands. Since they’re already covered in these areas, they can easily add their own omega-3, multivitamins, or sports supplements to the Age Defence System without overlap,” said Dr Gruber.
Driven by its mission to make longevity science accessible, For Youth is expanding its range of targeted solutions.
The team is exploring solutions for sexual and brain health, as well as ways to enhance VO2 max – a measure of oxygen utilisation during exercise.
Founded in 2021 with backing from venture capitalist Antler, For Youth’s products are currently available online through its website and major platforms like Amazon, Shopee, and Lazada, with future plans to expand into physical retail.
