Metformin anti-aging: new data

A study conducted by Belgian scientists from the University of Leuven provides new evidence in favor of the fact that metformin, the most widely used antidiabetic drug worldwide, slows down the aging process and increases life expectancy.

The addition of metformin to the environment containing roundworms Caenorhabditis elegans
significantly slows down the size reduction and prevents the formation of wrinkles in aging individuals.

The tiny roundworms Caenorhabditis elegans are an ideal model for studying aging, as their lifespan is only three weeks. As they age, these nematodes decrease in size, shrink and gradually lose mobility.

The experiments carried out by the authors showed that metformin increases the concentration of reactive oxygen species in nematode cells. These compounds are byproducts of energy synthesis in mitochondria and can damage intracellular structures.

The authors argue that while high concentrations of reactive oxygen species can cause damage to proteins and DNA, thereby disrupting the normal functioning of the cell, their small doses, on the contrary, have a positive effect. This is exactly what happens under the action of metformin, which leads to a slight increase in the production of reactive oxygen species. The result is an increase in cell viability and an increase in the lifespan of nematodes.

The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are not completely clear, however, researchers have found that under the action of metformin in the body of nematodes increases the concentration of the antioxidant enzyme peroxyredoxin-2 (PRDX-2). The peroxiredoxin-mediated signaling pathway has been well preserved in the course of evolution and may well be a universal mechanism for slowing down the aging process.

Earlier studies have shown that metformin slows down the progression of various types of cancer, as well as diseases of the cardiovascular system. However, the authors note that it is too early to extrapolate the results to humans.

Article by Wouter De Haes et al. Metformin promotes lifespan through mitohormesis via the peroxiredoxin PRDX-2 is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of KU Leuven:
Anti-diabetic drug metformin slows aging and lengthens lifespan.

04.06.2014