People continually quest to find some way to turn back the clock. In some ways, a cure to aging is something akin to a medical holy grail. There are always stories about people finding some new way to fight it, but many of them turn out to simply be stories. This doesn’t stop the quest though. Recently, scientists noticed that the diabetes drug Metformin may offer some benefits insight into this quest. OROGOLD decided it was best to have a look at this potential find to see if there was anything to it or if this is yet another story that leads people down a false path. What we’ve seen though seems to indicate that it may still be far too early to tell.

What We Know
Metformin is typically used in the treatment of adult-onset diabetes. It helps with symptom management. The researchers who noticed the potential for anti-aging effects saw them while testing the drug in a worm model. Animal models are commonly used when researching drugs as many react in similar ways to humans and can give us a clearer idea of expectations in human trials. This is why the researchers became excited when they noticed fewer signs of aging in the worms being treated with Metformin. Not only was there a decreased showing of external signs of aging, but the worms appear to become healthier as if there was a positive effect on their insides as well. The pattern held true across multiple worms and was enough to lead the researchers to request human trials from the FDA to look into the existence of similar effects in humans. As yet, these trials have yet to begin.

What This Means
As much as we dislike having to do it, OROGOLD feels the need to stress the use of the worm model in this study. The use of animal models is common, yes, but their utility varies as some models are closer to humans than others. A worm model is viable in many cases, but the mouse model is one of the primary ones used in medical research for a reason. The apparent anti-aging effects seen in the worms would be much more convincing if the researchers had found them in the mouse model. Don’t give up hope yet. The FDA has signed off on trials and this is a clear sign that the worm model isn’t without merit. All we’re suggesting is a high level of caution when it comes to viewing this study as going anywhere. Countless studies of the effects of drugs are done yearly to hone medical research and different effects are observed all the time. Many of them do not end up yielding directly useful research even though eliminating possible uses is a vital component of research as well.

What You Can Do
If you’re concerned about the signs of aging, we recommend that you take a few sensible steps instead of looking for any fountain of youth. One tip is to remember to wear your sunscreen. Sun damage is one of the leading reasons for premature skin aging. Try to focus on use products rich in vitamins C & E as well. Each of these vitamins is known for both helping improve collagen production in the skin and potentially elastin as well. Collagen is what helps provides shape to your skin and keeps it youthful and firm. Elastin, true to its name, is what provides elasticity to your skin that helps it spring back into place after stretching. You may wish to look into using retinol products around your eyes to help combat fine lines. These are all ways you can help deal with signs of aging without waiting for a miracle.

Science marches ever forward. It constantly tests and discards ideas as it tries to find what works. OROGOLD can’t really speculate on where the research into the anti-aging properties of Metformin will go, but the lack of clear details does incline one to skepticism. There will be more research in the future and this in turn may give us a reason to revisit the topic in the future. Until then, focus on keeping your skin’s health and treat it well. This will be your best defense against the signs of aging.