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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : June 3, 2014 3:29 PM IST
Keeping the years off your face may soon become a lot easier as researchers have now discovered new evidence that anti-diabetic drug metformin slows aging and increases lifespan. Turning on its head what scientists earlier thought caused aging, the researchers found that the drug causes an increase in the number of toxic oxygen molecules released in the cell and this, surprisingly, increases cell robustness and longevity in the long term. 'Metformin causes a slight increase in the number of harmful oxygen molecules. We found that this makes cells stronger and extends their healthy lifespan,' said Wouter De Haes from University of Leuven in Belgium.
Mitochondria - the energy factories in cells - generate tiny electric currents to provide the body's cells with energy and highly reactive oxygen molecules are produced as a by-product of this process. While these molecules are harmful because they can damage proteins and DNA and disrupt normal cell functioning, a small dose can actually do the cell good. 'Cells use the reactive oxygen particles to their advantage before they can do any damage,' De Haes explained. (Read: Dealing with cough in diabetics)
The researchers studied metformin's mechanism in the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, an ideal species for studying ageing because it has a lifespan of only three weeks. Worms treated with metformin show very limited size loss and no wrinkling. 'While we should be careful not to over-extrapolate our findings to humans, the study is promising as a foundation for future research,' De Haes cautioned. The study appeared in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Read: Five herbal remedies for diabetes)
When are drugs prescribed in diabetes?
'Lifestyle modification is the first treatment option for every patient diagnosed with diabetes. If a person has borderline diabetes (fasting glucose slightly greater than 120 mg/dL, post-prandial-200 mg/dL or greater) and has no other risk factors, then diabetes can be controlled well with diet and exercise. But treatment of diabetes has an individualized approach. So it also depends on the kind of lifestyle a person follows and would prefer to follow. For example, a businessman who works 24/7 and doesn't bother about health is less likely to adhere to dietary changes and exercise regimen. If such a person is diagnosed with borderline diabetes, then I would prescribe medicines. On the other hand, I also get patients who have really high sugar levels, say fasting glucose about 150 mg/dL and post prandial sugar levels about 250 mg/dL, and are ready to follow diet and exercise to control diabetes without taking medicines,' says Dr Pradeep.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.
With inputs from IANS
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