Diabetes Drug Metformin Might Increase Lifespan

Diabetes drug metformin can prolong life, a new study suggests.

Belgian doctoral researcher Wouter De Haes (KU Leuven) and colleagues conducted experiments on tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans and found that metformin might help in slowing down the ageing process. The roundworm is an excellent model for understanding ageing because it has a lifespan of just three weeks.

"As they age, the worms get smaller, wrinkle up and become less mobile. But, worms treated with metformin show very limited size loss and no wrinkling. They not only age slower, but they also stay healthier longer," said Wouter De Haes, according to a news release.

But, can humans use metformin to slow-down ageing? Researchers aren't sure about it yet.

"While we should be careful not to over-extrapolate our findings to humans, the study is promising as a foundation for future research," Wouter De Haes added.

How does metformin affect ageing?

Mitochondria or the power house of the cell generates tiny electric currents that provide energy to the cells. The reaction that produces this current also creates reactive oxygen molecules.

Large amounts of reactive oxygen molecules can damage the genetic material of the cell. However, in lesser amounts these molecules could be helpful in keeping the cells healthy.

"As long as the amount of harmful oxygen molecules released in the cell remains small, it has a positive long-term effect on the cell. Cells use the reactive oxygen particles to their advantage before they can do any damage," explained Wouter De Haes.

In roundworms, the drug works by increasing the number of toxic oxygen molecules in the cell and these molecules extend lifespan.

"Metformin causes a slight increase in the number of harmful oxygen molecules. We found that this makes cells stronger and extends their healthy lifespan," Wouter De Haes added.

The cosmetic industry has made millions by selling anti-ageing creams and lotions that contain anti-oxidants. These compounds promise to slow down ageing by neutralizing the active oxygen molecules. However, researchers are now realizing that people might want to keep some of the reactive molecules in the body to increase longevity.

Metformin

Metformin is a popular drug used to control sugar levels in people diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. Other research has shown that the drug can be used to treat cardiovascular diseases, polycystic ovarian syndrome, cancer and cellular immunity. In fact, National Institute on Aging researchers had found that metformin increases lifespan in mice models.

The present study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.