New research has shown that a common drug used to manage type 2 diabetes could also have anti-aging effects.
Henagliflozin is a type of medication which lowers blood glucose levels by restricting glucose reabsorption into the kidneys.
Cases of type 2 diabetes are on the rise and the disease is linked to the biological process of aging, known as senescence, which can cause damage to tissue from inflammatory molecules being secreted.
This process can speed up diabetes progression and increase the risk of complications associated with the condition.
Taking this into account, an approach which combines diabetes treatment with managing aging biomarkers could be more effective for people living with type 2 diabetes.
A biomarker of aging and a sign of possible damage to DNA is the shortening of telomeres, which are the protective caps made of repetitive DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes.
A recent study carried out by Chinese researchers involved 142 people between the ages of 35 and 70 with type 2 diabetes. They were given either henagliflozin or placebo.
The key finding was that those taking henagliflozin saw a significant increase (90.5%) in telomere length compared to those taking a placebo (65.6%).
- SGLT-2 inhibitors to become first-choice treatments for type 2 diabetes
- Dementia risk lowered by type 2 diabetes drug
The researchers said lifestyles changes made in both groups accounted for the slight lengthening in telomere in the placebo group, while the bigger increase seen in the henagliflozin group indicates the effect of the drug.
The research also showed that those taking henagliflozin saw improved glucose metabolism, increased certain insulin-like growth factors, and better immune function.
The team say that larger scale studies are needed to confirm its findings.
Read more in Cell Reports Medicine
