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Worth pointing out that Metformin has a host of unpleasant and common side effects. E.g., here's 40% of type 2 diabetics not adhering to the prescribed dosing protocol: https://joppp.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40545-022-...

> A number of studies assessing adherence to diabetes medications in patients with type 2 diabetes have reported that metformin has the lowest adherence rates when compared with other OAAs.




Is it known what the mechanism is for metformin's effect on longevity?

If it's due to its ability to reduce blood glucose levels, then berberine may be another way to get a similar effect.

Berberine stimulates glucose transport through a mechanism distinct from insulin

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002604950...

Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2410097/

It also lowers cholesterol

Berberine is a novel cholesterol-lowering drug working through a unique mechanism distinct from statins

https://www.nature.com/articles/nm1135

But pure berberine is not absorbed very well in the intestines, so you need to buy a good formation for it.

Enhancement of sodium caprate on intestine absorption and antidiabetic action of berberine

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20237966/

Amorphous solid dispersion of berberine with absorption enhancer demonstrates a remarkable hypoglycemic effect via improving its bioavailability

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24607213/

The best thing might be to cook with barberries:

https://thecaspianchef.com/2020/01/18/zereshk-polo-saffron-b...




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