Geneticist Nir Barzelai has investigated the genetic origins of centenarian’s remarkably protracted lives hoping to identify existing pharmaceuticals that can be remodeled to achieve the same outcome. One of the drugs he is investigating is metformin, used to lower blood sugar in diabetics, and there is some evidence that by reducing inflammation, preserving mitochondrial function, the batteries of our cells and stimulating the production of a longevity promoting protein called AMPK, this drug might have anti-ageing potential. One trial has even demonstrated that female diabetics who took metformin increased their chance of living past 90 by 30 % compared with those taking another form of blood sugar lowering medication but it would be nice to have more confirmation that this drug actually improves our chances of living longer which is why Barzelai is committed to discovering if metformin really does make a difference.
I already have some patients taking metformin for its purported longevity benefits and I always caution them that this drug doesn’t operate without some provisos one of them being its capacity to decrease vitamin B12 levels, a nutrient that has a central role in recycling homocysteine, a protein that when elevated can increase heart disease and stroke risk. Anyone using metformin as an anti-ageing strategy would be well advised to check their B12 and homocysteine status when embarking on such an endeavour.
