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Are the Longevity Benefits of Acarbose Rooted in Its Role on the Gut Microbiota?

gethealthspan.com

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Re: Are the Longevity Benefits of Acarbose Rooted in Its Role on the Gut Microbiota?

#11
post #6

> acarbose was one of five molecules shown to increase lifespan Rapacmycin, acarbose, glycine, canagliflozin and 17-a-estradiol [1]. Acarbose’s side effects include “flatulence (78% of patients) and diarrhea (14% of patients)” [2]. (It also appears to be hard on the liver.) [1] https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dab/interventions-testing-p... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acarbose

Why are diabetes drugs so often radically powerful for general health? i.e. semaglutide for weight loss, canagliflozin for longevity, etc.

When insulin stops doing what it's supposed to (= diabetes) then a lot of bad stuff happens. Improving insulin function (insulin sensitivity) is the main principle behind many current diet-based health interventions such as intermediate fasting, keto dieting, apple cider vinegar, and so on.

Diabetes drugs improve or replace the role of insulin, through differing mechanisms, so it makes sense that they would have some of the same benefits.

Re: Are the Longevity Benefits of Acarbose Rooted in Its Role on the Gut Microbiota?

#12

> acarbose was one of five molecules shown to increase lifespan Rapacmycin, acarbose, glycine, canagliflozin and 17-a-estradiol [1]. Acarbose’s side effects include “flatulence (78% of patients) and diarrhea (14% of patients)” [2]. (It also appears to be hard on the liver.) [1] https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dab/interventions-testing-p... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acarbose

Most well-documented pharmacological intervention to increase lifespan in aspirin. The most well-documented non-pharmacological is caloric restriction (with some evidence showing protein restriction).

Re: Are the Longevity Benefits of Acarbose Rooted in Its Role on the Gut Microbiota?

#13
post #6

> acarbose was one of five molecules shown to increase lifespan Rapacmycin, acarbose, glycine, canagliflozin and 17-a-estradiol [1]. Acarbose’s side effects include “flatulence (78% of patients) and diarrhea (14% of patients)” [2]. (It also appears to be hard on the liver.) [1] https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dab/interventions-testing-p... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acarbose

Why are diabetes drugs so often radically powerful for general health? i.e. semaglutide for weight loss, canagliflozin for longevity, etc.

Because we eat ourselves to death.

Re: Are the Longevity Benefits of Acarbose Rooted in Its Role on the Gut Microbiota?

#16

[flagged]

The relatively short US life expectancy at birth is mostly due to drug related and violent early deaths. Those middle aged US-Americans that are browsing the web for longevity drugs can expect to live as long as similar demographics in Europe and elsewhere, even without the drugs.

Re: Are the Longevity Benefits of Acarbose Rooted in Its Role on the Gut Microbiota?

#17

> acarbose was one of five molecules shown to increase lifespan Rapacmycin, acarbose, glycine, canagliflozin and 17-a-estradiol [1]. Acarbose’s side effects include “flatulence (78% of patients) and diarrhea (14% of patients)” [2]. (It also appears to be hard on the liver.) [1] https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/dab/interventions-testing-p... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acarbose

> glycine It’s fairly safe to discount any study that indicates significant health effects from a nonessential amino acid, especially in animal models.

Well the research is on rats. not to mention that the glycine specific one is funded by a glycine selling company. But despite all that, glycine has strong research backing it especially for reducing inflammation and allergies.

Re: Are the Longevity Benefits of Acarbose Rooted in Its Role on the Gut Microbiota?

#18

[flagged]

The relatively short US life expectancy at birth is mostly due to drug related and violent early deaths. Those middle aged US-Americans that are browsing the web for longevity drugs can expect to live as long as similar demographics in Europe and elsewhere, even without the drugs.

I’m sure diet also plays a role. I want a tool where I can ask “if an American man is not obese, doesn’t smoke/do drugs/drink alcohol, and is not predisposed to violent early death, what is the average lifespan for people with his characteristics?”
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