Targeting glucose metabolism for healthy aging
Rachel A Brewer1, Victoria K Gibbs2, Daniel L Smith2
1Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, AL, USA.
Nutrition and Healthy Aging
|December 31, 2016
Summary
Targeting glucose metabolism may slow aging and improve healthspan. Interventions like acarbose and dietary compounds that inhibit alpha-glucosidase show promise for enhancing glucose control and promoting longevity.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and metabolic health.
- Focus on aging as a risk factor for chronic diseases and the role of glucose regulation.
Background:
- Aging is linked to impaired glucoregulatory control and increased chronic disease risk.
- Longevity interventions often maintain or improve glucose metabolism.
Approach:
- Proposes targeting glucose metabolism to enhance regulatory control for ameliorating aging.
- Reviews calorie restriction (CR) and CR mimetics, focusing on alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like acarbose.
- Discusses dietary sources of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.
Key Points:
- Calorie restriction improves glucose control, extending lifespan and healthspan in model organisms.
- Acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, reduces glucose absorption from carbohydrates.
- Dietary sources like legumes and berries contain compounds with alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity.
Conclusions:
- Targeting glucose metabolism via alpha-glucosidase inhibition offers a potential strategy to combat aging.
- Further research on non-caloric compounds and their effects on macronutrient metabolism is warranted.
- Nutritional and lifestyle interventions targeting glucose regulation may reduce age-related disease risk.
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