Acarbose
Experimental off label · Evidence and recent research
Notify me when meaningful evidence changes.
Where things stand
Acarbose has extended lifespan in the National Institute on Aging’s mouse testing program, making it an interesting candidate for ageing research. Repeated animal results help justify investigation, but do not determine whether a diabetes medicine benefits people without diabetes or extends human life. Human clinical outcomes are the important next test of the longevity hypothesis. Source ↗ Recently: No update dated within the past 30 days is recorded in our collection. This describes our coverage, not a conclusion that the wider research is unchanged.
AI-written overview · not expert-reviewed · Background sources checked Sep 23, 2026 · Recent updates cover the last 30 days of this collection. A new report does not automatically change the evidence assessment.
⚠ Prescription or off-label use
Approved for diabetes. Use for longevity is off-label.
Background and coverage
NIA: Interventions Testing Program ↗
- Regulatory status
- Approved other indication
- Availability
- Prescription only
- Category
- Experimental off label
- Human results verified here
- 0
Evidence collection is needs review. 0 approved assessments; 9 assessments awaiting review; 1 published studies with verified results. Safety: not assessed.
Recorded evidence activity (experimental)
A numeric breakdown will be available after baseline review. Safety is not yet assessed.
What changed
Evidence events affecting this intervention
Linum strictum seed oil showed α-amylase inhibition comparable to acarbose in in vitro testing.
This in vitro study characterized the fatty acid composition of Linum strictum seed oil and tested its biological activities. The oil's α-amylase inhibition reached 85.98% with an IC50 of 0.0134 mg/mL, which the authors report as comparable to acarbose. The study also found antibacterial activity against several strains, >70% biofilm inhibition against A. baumannii, and anticoagulant effects.
Assessment history
The 25 most recent recorded changes, including corrections and backfill
Human studies with verified results
No published human results verified in this collection yet
Animal and mechanistic evidence
Claims
Testable statements and where the evidence stands