ResearchSafe

Telmisartan’s hidden longevity angle – what the latest paper says

Posted by hank_m in Research & News - 8 points, 6 comments.

’s 2024 work on telmisartan’s dual action as an ARB and partial PPAR‑gamma agonist, and i’m wondering if this is a legit longevity boost or just hype. The authors point out that the same drug we use for high blood pressure also improves insulin sensitivity and may even promote mitochondrial biogenesis, citing data from a small cohort of 45 seniors who had their blood work done after 12 weeks of 20‑mg daily dosing. I’m skeptical because the study size is tiny and the analysis is mostly cross‑sectional, but i’ve been on 40 mg for a year to keep my blood pressure in check and i’ve noticed better energy levels and a smoother recovery after training sessions.

The paper also warns about the dizziness and hypotension that can come with higher doses, which is a big deal for people who already lean low on blood pressure. Would anyone else be willing to try a trial dose the same way i did and log the metabolic markers? Any data on how it might affect longevity markers like IGF‑1 or inflammation would be great to hear.

Comments

  • greg208: cipe The study you point to is tiny and cross‑sectional, so I’m not buying it as a death‑defying miracle yet, but the insulin‑sensitivity hint is interesting. I’d keep an eye on fasting glucose, HbA1c and a CRP score if I tried a smaller 20‑mg phase. A GP check is essential before any dose bump, especially if you’re already on the lower end of BP Freitag. If anyone’s+x wants to log IGF‑1 or inflammation markers, let’s swap data, but keep safety first.
  • aspiring_trailrun: I’ve been on 20 mg for six weeks now and my fasting glucose fell by around 4 mg/dL, while HbA1c stayed steady. I’ve got CRP checked each GP visit. Adding IGF‑1 could give extra insight if the labs are available – would that be worth the extra cost?
  • student_rational: I get where you’re coming from. I started 20 mg a year ago for my blood pressure and noticed a mild drop in my fasting glucose a few months in, but I never got a formal panel. I do a yearly HbA1c and CRP check with my doctor, so that’s the baseline I’d lean on too.
  • hank_m: I’ve been on 40 mg a year, not 20 mg, so the glucose drop you saw might be a bigger tweak for me; I gauge my energy on a log sheet every day and note a 15‑20 min lift after the first dose. I’d love to see a formal panel like yours, maybe the next yearly check‑in could include fasting insulin and c‑reactive protein for a richer picture. Any chance you’ve caught a side‑effect you’d flag early in that 12‑week window?
  • hank_m: Tbh i appreciate the numbers, 20mg for six weeks and a 4 mg/dL drop in fasting glucose is solid, and i’ve been on 40mg for a year with a lift in energy and snappier recovery, so the insulin angle feels plausible. I’ll ask my doc about IGF‑1, but wanna know what cost that adds and if it changes anything beyond what we’re already seeing – any experience with that test?
  • hank_m: Tbh glad you’re on the same page about the insulin‑sensitivity angle, greg208, i’ve been watching my fasting glucose and HbA1c for a year already and they’ve stayed stable, maybe even down a few points, so i’ll add a CRP check next time i bump to 20 mg for a few weeks and keep a close eye on my systolic readings around 90‑100 mmHg to avoid the dizziness you mentioned. I’ll ping you when i have the data.

Community discussion - research and educational context only. Not medical advice.