Longevity drugs · metabolic
Acarbose
A carb-blocking diabetes drug that robustly extends lifespan in male mice.
Not medical advice — talk to a licensed clinician. Content is educational, reflects published literature, and is not a recommendation to start, stop or change any treatment.
What it is
An alpha-glucosidase inhibitor that slows carbohydrate digestion, approved for type 2 diabetes.
How it works, in plain English
Blocks enzymes in the gut that break down starches, flattening post-meal blood sugar spikes.
What the human evidence shows
ITP mouse studies show significant lifespan extension, stronger in males. Human diabetes trials (STOP-NIDDM) showed reduced progression to diabetes. No human longevity trials.
Regrowth grade C: Early / mixed human data.
Typical protocols in the literature
Typically taken with the first bite of carbohydrate-containing meals; doses discussed range 25–100 mg per meal.
Described for education, not as dosing advice.
Side effects & interactions
Side effects
- Gas and bloating
- Diarrhea
- Rare liver enzyme elevation
Interactions
- Digestive enzyme supplements
- Can amplify hypoglycemia with insulin/sulfonylureas
Key studies
- Harrison et al. — ITP acarbose results
- STOP-NIDDM trial
Citations pending medical review