Henagliflozin, a popular drug prescribed for type 2 diabetes, has demonstrated potential anti-aging effects in a recent study published in Cell Reports Medicine.

Telomeres are protective caps made of repetitive DNA sequences that sit at the ends of our chromosomes. Shortening of telomeres over time is a well-recognized marker of aging and an indicator of potential DNA damage.

A team of Chinese researchers enrolled 142 people between the ages of 35 and 70 years with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and randomly assigned them to either the henagliflozin group or the placebo group. They found that henagliflozin significantly increased telomere length compared to placebo, with 90.5% of patients showing telomere lengthening versus 65.6% on placebo.

Type 2 diabetes cases are on the rise, and according to the International Diabetes Federation’s prediction, the number of cases worldwide will hit the 700 million mark by 2045. This metabolic disease is often associated with senescence, the biological process of aging. Studies have shown that the presence of senescent cells, which are irreversibly arrested and do not undergo cell division or replication, leads to secretion of inflammatory molecules that damage tissues, accelerating diabetes progression and risk of associated complications.

Combining diabetes treatment with the management of aging biomarkers may lead to a more effective treatment strategy.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a class of oral anti-diabetes drugs that lower blood sugar levels by inhibiting glucose reabsorption into the kidneys. Apart from their direct contribution to better glucose and lipid metabolism, SGLT2i drugs like henagliflozin also support weight loss and mimic caloric restriction (CR), a well-known intervention for slowing down the aging process. Despite having strong theoretical and preclinical evidence, there is a lack of direct clinical data on the anti-aging effects of these anti-diabetic drugs.

To test the existence of this potential anti-aging effect of SGLT2i drugs, the researchers chose henagliflozin as the choice of drug and conducted a multicenter clinical trial to specifically evaluate the effects of henagliflozin on aging biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants received either a 10 mg/day dose of oral henagliflozin or a matching placebo tablet for a period of 26 weeks.

In addition to glucose metabolism markers, the researchers measured key aging-related parameters—such as telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system levels, which regulate growth and metabolism—before and after the study.

The measurements indicated significant lengthening of telomere in the henagliflozin group compared to the placebo group, demonstrating its anti-aging potential. The treatment also improved glucose metabolism, increased certain insulin-like growth factors, and enhanced immune function.

The researchers noted that both groups received the same lifestyle intervention, which likely accounted for the slight telomere lengthening in the placebo group, but the larger increase in the henagliflozin group points to an additional pharmacological effect.

While telomere length is a reliable biomarker for aging, it is neither the only nor the most conclusive one. Clinical trials with larger sample sizes, examining aging markers beyond telomeres, are needed to confirm the true anti-aging effects of henagliflozin.

© 2025 Science X Network