A study published in Nature Communications has reported that a dietary supplement commonly taken by patients with arthritis could be increasing their lifespan. You could be increasing your lifespan on this drug right now without even knowing it!

The sugar-related chemical, D-glucosamine, which is available without prescription to Australians was found to extend the lifespan of test mice. The drug has been found to mimic the molecular effects of a diet low in carbohydrates. This type of diet has been found to assist in pro-longing life however no research has been consolidated and proven thus far.

Currently, there are no chemicals that have been proven to extend life, however they are highly sought after. The studies done on previous substances have shown that they aren’t safe for use in humans.

The study has been lead by Michael Ristow and after administering D-glucosamine to both male and female mice the study proved successful for both sexes. Ristow and his team also found that the drug reduced glucose metabolism and increased amino acid turnover.

The study team suggests that given D-glucosamine is already safe to use in humans, it is likely to be fast tracked as a readily available drug for interventions to extend the life span on humans.

Would you consider taking a drug to extend your lifespan if you knew it was safe?