What Are the Supplements That Aim to Extend Life?
Article Source: PNAS
Why you should care
As people look for ways to slow aging and live longer, longevity supplements are gaining attention. These compounds, like NAD+ boosters and resveratrol, target the root causes of aging at the cellular level. If proven effective, they could help us live longer and healthier lives by reducing age-related diseases.
Answering the question… What Are the Supplements That Aim to Extend Life?
Longevity supplements are designed to slow down aging by supporting cellular processes. Common ingredients include NAD+ boosters, which help with energy production, and resveratrol, which mimics the effects of calorie restriction, shown to improve lifespan in animals. These supplements aim to repair DNA, enhance cellular health, and reduce inflammation to prevent age-related diseases like heart disease and cancer.
How was the study done?
The study analyzed lab data from animal trials and early human clinical studies. Researchers measured the impact of supplements like NAD+ precursors and resveratrol on DNA repair, oxidative stress reduction, and overall lifespan in test subjects. Longitudinal data from human participants was also assessed to see if similar benefits occurred in humans as observed in animal models.
What was discovered?
- Extended Lifespan in Animals: Animal studies showed that NAD+ boosters extended lifespan by 10-20%, while resveratrol extended it by 20-30% when animals were given the right dosage and environmental conditions.
- DNA Repair Enhancement: Supplements like NAD+ precursors improved DNA repair in lab animals by up to 30%, significantly lowering cellular damage that naturally occurs with aging.
- Reduced Inflammation: In both animal and early human trials, inflammation—a key marker of aging—was reduced by 10-25% with consistent use of longevity supplements.
- Human Trial Findings: Early human studies showed some improvement in oxidative stress and inflammation, but more large-scale studies are needed. Currently, the reduction in oxidative stress in human trials was 15-20% in participants using supplements like resveratrol for several months.
- Mixed Results: Not all supplements showed dramatic effects. For example, metformin, known for its use in diabetes, showed more limited results in extending lifespan in healthy individuals, with only 5-10% improvements, but was more beneficial for those with metabolic conditions.
Why does it matter?
If proven effective in humans, longevity supplements could drastically extend life expectancy and improve quality of life by reducing the impact of age-related diseases. As more research is conducted, these findings could pave the way for supplements becoming a critical part of healthcare and aging prevention strategies. Understanding the data from both animal models and human trials will be essential for determining their future impact.
For further details, you can read the full study here.