Anti-diabetic Drug Helps Slow Down Aging: Study

Moderate use of the anti-diabetic drug 'metformin' can defer the aging process, finds a study.

Anti-aging cosmetics, medications and surgical procedures are booming in a market with an endless obsession for younger looking skin and body. Recently, Belgian researchers found that metformin prescribed as an anti-diabetic drug helps slow down aging by increasing life span and durability of cells in the body. For the study, experts tested the efficacy of the drug on 'Caenorhabditis elegans', a tiny round worm species with a life span of only three weeks. Aging makes these worms shrivel, wrinkle and become less active.

It was observed that by giving metformin, the wrinkling reduced and they did not shrivel up.  Metformin spikes up the production of highly active oxygen molecules released by mitochondria, an energy supplying cell organelle. These hyperactive oxygen molecules are very toxic when released in large quantities and damage the protein, DNA and even affect cell functioning. However, the study authors suggest intake of drug in small doses can be beneficial in boosting the cell longevity.

"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," said Wouter De Haes, study author and researcher at the  KU Leuven in a news release. "Metformin causes a slight increase in the number of harmful oxygen molecules. We found that this makes cells stronger and extends their healthy lifespan."

Manufacturers of anti-aging cosmetics extensively make use of anti-oxidant compounds extracted from organic sources like fruits, vegetables, green tea, wine and dark chocolate. So far it was believed that hyperactive oxygen molecules speed up aging process and cell deterioration in the body. The current study noted the anti-oxidants suppress the negative effects of active oxygen molecules by completely blocking the anti-aging properties in metformin.

 The authors add they believe in investigating further to examine the drug impacts on humans.

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

More information is available online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.