Study of Acarbose in Longevity

Purpose

The investigators are studying the effects of acarbose on muscle and adipose gene transcription in older adults.

Condition

  • Aging

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 60 Years and 100 Years
Eligible Genders
Male
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Male - age >60 years - impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)

Exclusion Criteria

  • cancer - heart failure - COPD - inflammatory conditions - eGFR<45 - active liver disease - poorly controlled hypertension - epilepsy - recent cardiovascular disease event (last 6 months) - inflammatory bowel disease - history of bariatric or other gastric surgery - cigarette smoking - serious substance abuse. - Treatment with drugs known to influence glucose metabolism - Hypersensitivity to acarbose or any component of the formulation. - Treatment with anti-coagulant medications or anti-platelet drugs

Study Design

Phase
Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Crossover Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Other
Acarbose first 		Participants will take acarbose three times daily for 10 weeks (titration over 4 weeks, maintenance 6 weeks). After a two week washout, participants will take placebo three times daily for a total of 10 weeks (titration over 4 weeks, maintenance 6 weeks).
  • Drug: Acarbose
    see arm description
    Other names:
    • Precose
  • Other: Placebo
    See arm description
Other
Placebo first 		Participants will take placebo three times daily for 10 weeks (titration over 4 weeks, maintenance 6 weeks). After a two week washout, participants will take acarbose three times daily for a total of 10 weeks (titration over 4 weeks, maintenance 6 weeks).
  • Drug: Acarbose
    see arm description
    Other names:
    • Precose
  • Other: Placebo
    See arm description

More Details

Status
Completed
Sponsor
Montefiore Medical Center

Study Contact

Detailed Description

Acarbose, an FDA approved drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has known effects on glucose metabolism. Evidence from mice indicates that acarbose may prolong lifespan. In humans, acarbose improves inflammatory markers and reduces cardiovascular events. Consequently, acarbose is of interest in clinical translational aging research since it may influence fundamental processes that contribute to age-related diseases. The study described herein is an exploratory study to examine the effect of acarbose treatment on the biology of aging in humans. Specifically, the investigators plan to study whether treatment with a 10 week course of acarbose will alter the gene expression profile in adipose tissue and muscle in older adults in pathways that are known to be affected by human aging, in a placebo-controlled crossover study.