Drugs often have undesired side effects.
But sometimes, they affect something other than what they’re prescribed for, and the result is welcome.
Since the 1950s, metformin has been prescribed for type 2 diabetes.
It’s also considered a gerotherapeutic, a drug that can slow down various aging processes in the body.
But can metformin actually extend human lifespan?
A group of scientists from the U.S. and Germany set out to explore this question. Here’s what they found…
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Metformin helps women live past 90
A group of American and German scientists used data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-term study of postmenopausal women.
Half the subjects took metformin to treat diabetes, while the other half took a different diabetes drug called sulfonylurea.
Unlike in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the subjects weren’t randomly assigned to the two groups; they were already on the respective medications. Therefore, cause and effect can’t be proven here.
Nevertheless, the average follow-up period was 14 to 15 years, far beyond the length of follow-up in a typical RCT. And the findings are impressive…
The women who took metformin had a 30 percent lower risk of dying before the age of 90.
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Is there a common denominator?
As a gerotherapeutic, metformin has previously been shown to:
- Limit DNA damage
- Promote activity of genes specific to human longevity
- And slow brain aging
You may wonder how one drug can target multiple pathways of aging.
A common denominator may be a small gland deep within your chest, close to your heart, called the thymus.
The central function of the thymus is to produce and release powerful immune cells to help fight infection and disease. As we age, our thymus shrinks, and so does its ability to produce T cells.
In one study, researchers stumbled upon a combination of metformin and two hormones that helped restore thymus function in healthy adult men aged 51 to 65 — and slowed their biological aging by about 2.5 years.
Another study in mice showed that metformin could slow age-related thymus degeneration by regulating mitochondrial function.
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But this doesn’t mean you should run out and get a prescription for metformin. First, it’s not FDA-approved as an anti-aging drug.
Secondly, it does carry side effects, even when taken for diabetes. These include diarrhea, nausea, headache and decreased appetite.
Fortunately, you can help your thymus out…
Even though the adult thymus naturally shrinks, maintaining adequate nutrient intake through diet (citrus fruits, leafy greens, nuts and seeds) and targeted supplements can support its function. Focus on zinc (which also improves blood sugar control) and vitamins A, C and D3.
In a recent study, supplementing D3 was found to slow aging by nearly 3 years during the research period. That study did not directly link to thymus aging, but previous animal studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency accelerates thymic aging.
Sources:
A Common Diabetes Drug Is Linked to ‘Exceptional Longevity’ in Women — Science Alert
Comparative Effectiveness of Metformin Versus Sulfonylureas on Exceptional Longevity in Women With Type 2 Diabetes: Target Trial Emulation — Journals of Gerontology
Metformin ameliorates thymus degeneration of mice by regulating mitochondrial function — International Immunopharmacology
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