At inaugural Dakshin Healthcare Summit in Hyderabad, organised by South First and TV9 Network, potential of these therapies were discussed.
Published Aug 05, 2024 | 5:48 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 06, 2024 | 3:33 PM
The session titled The Secrets of Longevity Unraveling the Science. (South First)
The quest for longevity has long fascinated scientists, leading to extensive research on various interventions that could extend human lifespan and improve health during ageing.
Among these, Metformin, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Resveratrol, and Rapamycin have emerged as prominent contenders.
Metformin, a widely used anti-diabetic drug, has shown potential in modulating ageing pathways.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, traditionally used for treating decompression sickness and wound healing, is being explored for its rejuvenating effects on cellular health.
Resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine, is celebrated for its antioxidant properties and potential to activate longevity genes. Rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug, has garnered attention for its ability to inhibit mTOR, a key regulator of ageing.
Together, these therapies represent a multifaceted approach to understanding and potentially extending human longevity.
At the inaugural Dakshin Healthcare Summit held in Hyderabad, organised by South First and TV9 Network, the session titled “The Secrets of Longevity — Unraveling the Science” featured Medanta Hospital’s Institute of Liver Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine Chairman Dr Arvind Singh Soin as the moderator.
Dr Soin asked Dr Vritti Lumba, Program Head at Fortis Cancer Institutes, Fortis Healthcare, and Dr Ummer Qadeer, Clinical Process Lead Physician at Hooke, London, about these therapies and medications.
When asked about the potential of Metformin and HBOT in anti-ageing, Dr Lumba stated, “There’s a lot of work happening. Metformin has shown stark results in terms of people who were on metformin for diabetes living longer compared to those who were not on it. Metformin improves your sensitivity to insulin, which is beneficial when regulated correctly. There’s a significant study happening, and that’s why Metformin is now being considered for off-label use.”
She pointed out that Metformin is not available as a ready prescription for anti-ageing purposes and that studies are ongoing to evaluate its side effects when given to healthy individuals.
“Obviously, giving it to diabetics is straightforward,” she said. “But giving it to healthy individuals requires careful evaluation. Metformin is showing promising results, but there are a few risk factors.”
Dr Lumba highlighted that there have been very remote cases, particularly in women, where there has been an increased incidence of cancer.
“So, the recommendation at the moment is to monitor yourself closely if you want to experiment with Metformin,” she advised. “Start with a low dose, such as 500 mg, and do not take it every day. Take it in pulses.”
Dr Soin added, “As long as you’re getting your health checks done routinely if you want to experiment with things like Metformin, with the understanding that it’s not completely scientifically approved everywhere in the world, go for it.”
Dr Lumba said hyperbaric oxygen therapy has shown definitive anti-inflammatory effects.
“You know, there’s a lot of good things that have come out with this therapy. Basically, what you’re doing is locking yourself in a chamber and getting exposed to highly concentrated oxygen. This process has shown definitive anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation throughout the body leads to ageing,” she said.
“So, when we go into such a chamber for an hour (though not every day), it has shown proven benefits for conditions like osteoarthritis, cancer and metabolic syndrome,” she explained.
“There are studies ongoing, and it has shown proven benefits. There is a regimen to be followed under proper medical supervision. But yes, it holds great promise and should withstand the test of time,” she added.
Dr Qadeer said there was not enough evidence to recommend resveratrol for longevity.
“In terms of resveratrol, I don’t think there is enough evidence to recommend it. There is a specific group of people who are proponents of this, but over time, the evidence has shown that it doesn’t really add up to much in terms of longevity benefits,” he said.
“There was some initial evidence from a study on a group of mice that were not heterogeneous in nature. As the study was expanded by the interventions testing program, which tests compounds with potential anti-ageing benefits, the results did not replicate the early promise. Therefore, I don’t feel it would add much value. The absorption is also quite poor in oral form, so to gain any benefit, even if there was some, you would have to take very high doses,” Dr Qadeer said.
“We don’t know whether or not there are side effects. It was acquired by a major company, and I believe they have shelved their investigation of it because it just didn’t live up to expectations. Personally, I’m not a fan of resveratrol,” he added.
Regarding rapamycin, Dr Qadeer said that it was promising but needed more data to use it clinically.
“Well, rapamycin is a bit of an older compound discovered around the 1960s on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in Chile. It was found because people visited the island when they were sick, and they would touch the soil and start to feel better. So, it was seen as a sort of miraculous compound.
“It has been used in transplant surgeries to suppress the immune system so that the organs can be accepted. How could this medication benefit us? It has shown in multiple life forms — rodents, worms, and yeast—that it can enhance lifespan in all these organisms,” he said.
He also pointed out that it is uncertain whether these benefits extend to humans.
“Humans live a lot longer, so it takes about 80 to 100 years to find out. These organisms live from a couple of months to a few years. So, it has shown promise. But would I recommend someone take it now? Probably not. I think you have to get everything else right first,” he said.
“There are some immune-suppressive effects of it, so there is a higher risk of infections. I think we just need more data, and there are trials ongoing looking at the effects of this on various important factors. It’s definitely promising, but maybe a bit early to pull the trigger just yet,” he added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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