Metformin
Thought I would share a recent article that I saw regarding Metformin -very interesting points being made. I just starting taking it as part of my overall anti aging approach - I am Type 2) but was alarmed regarding the potential impact with respect to doubling the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/article/supplements-articles/dark-side-metformin/
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Inevitably when a new approach becomes popular there are people who like to shoot holes in it, weaving an argument against the approach. News is made by narratives, both pro and con, and the more convincing the narrative sounds the more clicks it'll get. Digging a little deeper
"“Reappraisal of Metformin Efficacy in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes,” when combined with sulphonylurea (another common antidiabetic medication), metformin can actually result in an increased risk of cardiovascular complications and all-cause mortality."
Few here are also taking sulphonlurea I think.
Anyhow Metformin has a long history with millions of people taking it, many studies showing the aging benefit as a side effect, and we also know the reason why it has a aging reversal effect. Knowing the what and how, to a high degree of certainty is my standard. Also considering that there are almost always negatives. Simple examples - a knife can help you make food but can hurt you, same with fire, a car gets you places but is a dangerous form of transportation, etc. But of course if you don't feel an approach is good for you then listen to that. I've personally always been against pharmaceuticals, but the evidence for the value to addressing aging is now too strong IMO.
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Recent review article on metformin.
Metformin and Aging: A Review
https://www.karger.com/Article/Pdf/502257
Questionable efficacy if one is very healthy, low glucose...especially if high exerciser. Surprised the TAME trial has not yet started.
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New research shows metformin turns on unexpected kinases and pathways, many independent of AMPK. Two of the activated kinases are called Protein Kinase D and MAPKAPK2. These kinases are poorly understood, but are known to have some relation to cellular stress, which could connect them to the health-span- and life-span-extending effects observed in other studies.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191204090815.htm
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I don't know much about Metformin but I thought it lowers blood sugar or something. May I suggest bitter melon which does the same thing. I was inflicted with horrible acne and always hated my mom's bitter melon cooking. But that one time I was so hungry I had to eat it. My acne improved the next day. If it was slow acting, I wouldn't have noticed it. This video may be of interest to someone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5--YRtQ7sgw . Bitter melon may be good at suppressing glucose spikes. I'll be taking it after meals. The problem is a large dose shuts me down, putting me to sleep. It's a sleeping pill also because without fuel the body shuts down.
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Chan Metformin does a lot more than just helping reduce glucose. It affects multiples paths that are involved with aging including AMPK activation which is what this thread is about. I grow bitter melon. My wife and I eats lots of it when it is in season. But I still take metformin for it's anti-aging properties.
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I watched a video last night on the mechanism that blood sugar suppresses the ability of the body to fight inflammation. I'm more determined to suppress sugar spikes. To this end, I just blended up some bitter melon and stevia and will make ice cream out of it soon. This way I don't have much trouble keeping it fresh and can consume some bitter melon ice cream after a meal. I need to buy a blood sugar testing kit to confirm that it works. Another video of an experiment someone did showed zero increase in blood sugar with stevia consumption.
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Not sure the evidence in favor of Metformin is very strong. Still need more study data, which is in the works.
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Karl if there is any drug that has any evidence in humans it’s Metformin
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Paul Beauchemin If I had to pick a single drug, I'd go with Rapamycin.
As for Metformin, I am unaware of a single Human prospective double blind study for longevity or healthspan. I await results of the TAME study.
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I am prediabetic and at my last dr visit I asked to start me on Metformin and she sent a script out. I asked for it based on what I read here.
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What dose of Metformin are you all taking for anti aging benefits (people that are not type 2) I am looking at using 1 x extended release 1000mg tablet daily.
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From what I've been reading recently, current anti-aging results of metformin therapy in males are very disappointing. Just to mention one source posted elsewhere here by another member:
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Some evidence I was reading today that Metformin was toxic to [non insulin resistant] worms when administered in later life. It extended life if given when young, but killed the worms through greater ATP depletion when given to older worms. Insulin Resistant worms did not suffer (so happy to keep taking the stuff as I am indeed IR). The apparent wonder drug rapamycin mediated the toxic effects by increasing ATP in the older worms. It's lengthy but worth absorbing because if it translated to humans it would mean not to take Metformin in old age if your insulin sensitivity didn't dictate that;
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Jack Black I keep thinking about this so will finally post the thought; If the metformin toxicity from worms translates to humans the TAME study is going to fall flat, perhaps show detrimental results. The only possible saving grace perhaps might be that most people in the western world are somewhat IR when they reach a certain age due to the western diet. We shall see when they publish.
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