Metformin and the promise of geroprotection
Abstract
Much has been written about the multifaceted effects of metformin in medical literature.[1] The glycemic and metabolic effects of metformin have been known to us for over half-a-century. In the past decade, however, attention has been focused on the extraglycemic effects of this molecule, including the cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-malignant effects. The anti-malignant effects of metformin have been discussed in great detail in recent publications.[2] Cancer is a disease of aging. In general, the factors that initiate and promote tumorigenesis are associated with age-related damage. It stands to reason, therefore, that metformin may hold a potential not only as an anti-tumour drug, but also as a geroprotective agent. This editorial focuses upon this relatively less highlighted aspect of metformin: its anti-aging effect.[3] Since time immemorial, medical science has searched for an antidote to aging, for a drug to defeat death. References to panaceas for longevity exist in ancient Indian literature, as well as medieval European writings. Modern medicine has utilized various means of prolonging life. The most promising lead has been that of calorie restriction. Calorie restriction (CR) has been shown to prolong life span in various animal models, from nematodes to rodents to mammals. CR increases resistance to stress and toxicity, while maintaining function and vitality in laboratory mammals. It increases life-span, and reduces or delays age-related disease such…
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