Is there a Dietary Supplement Equivalent to Acarbose?
Interestingly, several recent studies reported interesting effects of 2-deoxy glucose (2DG) – an integral part of the acarbose molecule (Fig. 10). In one study, the researchers compared the beneficial effects of 2-deoxyglucose with caloric restriction (CR). Caloric restriction is the best tested and most reproducible means of extending the maximum life span of experimental animals. The researchers found that feeding 2-deoxyglucose to experimental animals resulted in many of the benefits of caloric restriction, including lower blood insulin levels, greater insulin sensitivity, and increased resistance to tumors – without restricting calories (Roth, et al, 1999). Using an animal model of Parkinson’s disease, researchers at the University of Kentucky found that both 2DG and caloric restriction exerted striking beneficial effects, including suppression of oxidative stress, preservation of mitochondrial function, and reduction of cell death. Although 2DG is not currently available as a diet
