A modest reduction in insulin can improve insulin sensitivity and prolong life in mice.
This is the first study to examine the effects of reduced insulin on insulin sensitivity in old age and on lifespan in any mammal. Remarkably, we find that mice with a little less insulin (enough to still maintain control over blood sugar) can improve health and extend life. This supports the concept that diets and other approaches to target excess insulin could have broad effects in preventing illness and improving lifespan.
As Published in Cell Reports doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2017.06.048
by Dr. Jim Johnson
Affiliations: Diabetes Research Group, LSI, Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences
Collaborators: Nicole Templeman, Stephane Flibotte, Jenny Chick, Sunita Sinha, Gareth Lim, Leonard Foster, Corey Nislow