UK scientists have reported the drug rapamycin prolongs life in several vertebrate species at a level similar to dietary restrictions. Researchers at the University of East Anglia conducted meta-analysis of 167 research papers looking at eight vertebrate species including mice, rats, turquoise killifish and rhesus macaques.
Their results, published in Aging Cell, explored how rapamycin and metformin influenced longevity among several animals and confirmed: dietary restriction (caloric reduction or fasting) appeared to prolong life; rapamycin (an immunosuppressant and antibiotic used to help transplant patients) offered similar benefits; but metformin (which helps Type 2 diabetes management) only had a minimal impact.
Study author Dr Zahida Sultanova told medicalnewstoday.com: ‘We checked whether the two best-known ‘diet-mimic’ drugs increase lifespan similar to eating less in animals.
We found rapamycin is almost as reliable as eating less for increasing lifespan, whereas metformin is not. In other words, a compound extracted from soil bacteria 50 years ago seems able to copy many of the biological effects of a permanent diet, at least in lab animals.’
The UK study did not find a consistent difference based on sex of the animals.
US bariatric surgeon surgeon Dr Mir Ali commented: ‘The study shows the contribution of the immune system to lifespan, as rapamycin is an immunosuppressive medication. The most logical next step is to explore the findings in humans; however, this would be a difficult study to design as rapamycin is a medication used in specific cancers and organ transplant and has significant side effects.’
Dr Sultanova added: ‘Another important next step would be developing drugs that are similar in structure and function to rapamycin, but without the side-effects. Scientists have already started refining rapamycin and producing the so-called ‘rapalog’ versions that keep the benefits while omitting side-effects such as immune suppression.’
