The lifespan of lab mice was prolonged by nearly a tenth with an over-the-counter supplement designed to ease osteoarthritis, said scientists on Tuesday.
This would translate into an average eight-year longevity gain if the result could be repeated in humans, Swiss researchers reported in the journal Nature Communications.
Dietary Supplements - Dieticians Recommend and Use It Too: Survey
Health professionals recommend dietary supplements to patients but do they take it themselves? If so, which ones?
Advertisement
A team led by Michael Ristow at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich used a common dietary supplement called glucosamine on laboratory mice after testing it on worms.
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound found in the lubricating fluid which surrounds joints.
It is widely sold over the counter as a supplement to combat osteoarthritis, the commonest form of arthritis, although studies into its efficacy have thrown up mixed results.
![Probiotics - Support System for the Gut]( "Probiotics - Support System for the Gut")
Probiotics are live microorganisms that resemble the "good bacteria" in our gut. Science is yet to fully explore the healing potential of probiotics; meanwhile some studies have ruled in their favor.
Ristow's team first tested a tiny dose on a well-researched lab animal, a nematode worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, and found it extended its lifespan by some five percent.
They then experimented with 146 mice just under two years old -- the rough equivalent of 65 years in human terms.
Mice given glucosamine lived on average 10 percent longer than counterparts who did not get the supplement, which in human terms is about eight years.
Additional work in lab dishes suggested glucosamine had a big effect on the metabolic system, the scientists said.
It prevents the breakdown of large sugar molecules into smaller ones, thus replicating a "low-carb" diet that restricts intake of carbohydrates.
Further work is needed to explain why this appears to affect the mice's longevity -- and to see whether the benefit extends to humans.
"If an even modest effect on ageing were proven, it would be a major advance," Tim Spector, a genetic epidemiologist at King's College London, said in an independent comment.
"However, humans are not the same as worms or rodents, and studies will need careful replication before we get over-excited."
Source: AFP
It is widely sold over the counter as a supplement to combat osteoarthritis, the commonest form of arthritis, although studies into its efficacy have thrown up mixed results.
Probiotics - Support System for the Gut
Probiotics are live microorganisms that resemble the "good bacteria" in our gut. Science is yet to fully explore the healing potential of probiotics; meanwhile some studies have ruled in their favor.
Advertisement
Ristow's team first tested a tiny dose on a well-researched lab animal, a nematode worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, and found it extended its lifespan by some five percent.
They then experimented with 146 mice just under two years old -- the rough equivalent of 65 years in human terms.
Mice given glucosamine lived on average 10 percent longer than counterparts who did not get the supplement, which in human terms is about eight years.
Additional work in lab dishes suggested glucosamine had a big effect on the metabolic system, the scientists said.
It prevents the breakdown of large sugar molecules into smaller ones, thus replicating a "low-carb" diet that restricts intake of carbohydrates.
Further work is needed to explain why this appears to affect the mice's longevity -- and to see whether the benefit extends to humans.
"If an even modest effect on ageing were proven, it would be a major advance," Tim Spector, a genetic epidemiologist at King's College London, said in an independent comment.
"However, humans are not the same as worms or rodents, and studies will need careful replication before we get over-excited."
Source: AFP
Are Dietary Supplements Beneficial in Smokers?
Dietary supplements bring about certain metabolic changes in smokers, according to a recent study.
Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Diet & Nutrition News
The nutritional profile of American diet can be significantly improved by substituting small amounts of pulses for refined grains and common protein sources.
Lowering the intake of isoleucine in diet can extend lifespan, promote a slim body, anti-aging properties, and reduce cancer and prostate health issues.
Keep Thanksgiving leftovers safe: Refrigerate promptly, use airtight containers, label and date, and reheat properly.
Poor nutrition raises the risk of type 2 diabetes, and mental issues like anxiety and depression. Nutrition interventions aid in managing these health issues.
Micronutrient deficiencies may play a crucial role in the worldwide surge of antibiotic resistance.