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Metformin is a widely used medication for managing type 2 diabetes, primarily by improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels. In terms of longevity, metformin has shown potential benefits beyond glucose control, including reducing inflammation, improving mitochondrial function, and possibly mimicking some effects of calorie restriction, which may contribute to extended lifespan and healthier aging.
Metformin has shown potential benefits for longevity and anti-aging. Originally developed to improve insulin sensitivity, research now suggests broader health implications.
Studies in model organisms reveal that metformin can extend lifespan, particularly in nematodes, when started early and under specific conditions (Aging Cell, 2022). In human cells, metformin has been shown to extend the lifespan of fibroblasts and stem cells by upregulating antioxidant enzymes, providing insights into its cellular anti-aging effects (Aging Cell, 2018).
Metformin may also reduce cancer incidence. A study found that it was associated with a lower risk of cancer in older adults with diabetes, though combining it with aspirin increased cancer mortality, indicating a need for further investigation (JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 2023).
PUBLICATIONS
- Association of Metformin, Aspirin, and Cancer Incidence with Mortality Risk in Adults with Diabetes.
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- JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2023
- Design: Study examining metformin and aspirin’s effects on cancer incidence and mortality in older adults with diabetes.
- Summary: Metformin was associated with a reduced risk of cancer incidence but not conclusively with cancer mortality. Aspirin users had increased cancer mortality risk.
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- Metformin has heterogeneous effects on model organism lifespans and is beneficial when started at an early age in Caenorhabditis elegans: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
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- Aging Cell. 2022
- Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of metformin on lifespan in model organisms.
- Summary: Metformin did not significantly extend lifespan in mice or nematodes overall, but showed benefits in nematodes when started early and with specific dietary conditions.
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- Metformin alleviates human cellular aging by upregulating the endoplasmic reticulum glutathione peroxidase 7.
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- Aging Cell. 2018
- Design: Study on the effects of metformin on human cellular aging.
- Summary: Metformin extends the lifespan of human cells by upregulating GPx7 and activating the Nrf2 pathway, highlighting its potential in delaying cellular aging.
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- Metformin reduces all-cause mortality and diseases of ageing independent of its effect on diabetes control: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
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- Ageing Res Rev. 2017
- Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis on metformin’s geroprotective effects in humans.
- Summary: Metformin use is associated with reduced all-cause mortality and lower risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease, suggesting its potential as a geroprotective agent.
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- Metformin improves putative longevity effectors in peripheral mononuclear cells from subjects with prediabetes: A randomized controlled trial.
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- Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015
- Design: Randomized controlled trial on metformin’s effects on longevity pathways in prediabetic subjects.
- Summary: Metformin improved metabolic parameters and increased the expression of longevity-related genes and proteins, suggesting its potential anti-aging effects in humans.
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- Metformin slows down aging and extends life span of female SHR mice.
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- Cell Cycle. 2008
- Design: Study on the effects of metformin on aging and lifespan in female SHR mice.
- Summary: Chronic treatment with metformin extended the lifespan of female SHR mice and delayed age-related decline, highlighting its potential as an anti-aging intervention.
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