Study glucosamine prolongs life

Scientists discover life-prolonging effect of the dietary supplement glucosamine

04/11/2014

The over-the-counter dietary supplement glucosamine has a life-prolonging effect on roundworms (Caenorhabditis elegans) and mice, according to a recent study by a Swiss-German research team led by Michael Ristow from the German Institute for Human Nutrition in Potsdam-Rehbrücke. In the trade magazine „Nature“ the scientists report that glucosamine „in pharmacologically relevant concentrations is able to prolong the life of C. elegans and to slow down the aging of mice.“

So far, the dietary supplement glucosamine was mainly known for its positive effect on joint complaints, such as osteoarthritis. In recent years, however, research has focused on the potential impact on natural aging processes. The scientists from Germany and Switzerland examined in experiments with aged mice, how glucosamine affects their further life expectancy. They found that taking glucosamine in 100-week-old mice (equivalent to people around the age of 65) increased life expectancy by almost ten percent on average.

Significant effect on the life expectancy of the mice
The researchers observed in their experiments numerous different effects of the dietary supplement glucosamine on the metabolism of mice. For example, the blood sugar level has decreased and at the same time increased the expression of several amino acid transporters. According to the scientists, the dietary supplement also had an effect on mitochondrial biogenesis. The extension of life expectancy led them especially to the „decreased glycolysis and a compensatory increase in amino acid turnover“ back. „Taken together, we provide evidence that glucosamine can affect the life span of various species“, report Ristow and colleagues. Glucosamine is similar to one here „Low-Carb Diet“ (Carbohydrate minimization of nutrition).

Dietary supplement also suitable for cancer therapy?
An added benefit of glucosamine, according to the researchers, is that there is extensive human data showing that it is unproblematic, even at high doses. If the results are translated to humans, it could potentially lead to a sudden increase in average life expectancy worldwide. For an extension of the lifetime by about ten percent in this country would mean almost eight additional years of life. Even if only the benefits of a carbohydrate-minimized diet through the dietary supplements can be achieved (without directly extending the lifetime), this would already be a considerable health benefit for many people. The scientists also stressed that it would „interesting to see if and how glucosamine affects not only the glucose metabolism, but also affects the cancer growth in mice.“ The hope is that the over-the-counter nutritional supplement could also be used in cancer therapy in the future. (Fp)