Rapamycin: Practical Dosage & Benefits | Dr Alan Green Episode 4

TL;DR

Rapamycin, a drug used in transplant medicine, can be taken to inhibit mTOR and potentially slow down the aging process.

Transcript

thank you so what i'd like to talk about is rapamycin and so how long did you say you've been taking rapamycin it was i've been taking it for over five years as i started uh so like i'd say five and a half years i started in like january 2016 so i make it five and a half years wow okay and so can you talk about the dose and the schedule again i mea... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎵 Taking rapamycin for over five years, starting in January 2016, with a dose of 1-6 milligrams once a week or every other week. Innovations in dosage scheduling have been developed to optimize its effects.
• 🧬 Rapamycin inhibits mTOR, preventing the assembly of mTORC1 and obstructing its function. Transplant patients need to take rapamycin daily to maintain continuous suppression of mTOR and prevent rejection of the transplanted organ.
• 🤒 Side effects of rapamycin can lead to interruptions in treatment. Caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, and reducing insulin resistance can also effectively inhibit mTOR and promote overall health.
• 🍴 Other measures to inhibit mTOR include methionine restriction, which mimics caloric restriction, and reducing leucine intake. Maintaining a healthy weight and waistline is also crucial for insulin sensitivity.
• 🔬 Studies show that caloric, protein, and methionine restriction, as well as rapamycin, all have similar effects on reducing ROS levels and improving mitochondrial function. Methionine restriction specifically fools the body into thinking it is undergoing caloric restriction and activates similar pathways.
• 🌱 A vegan diet is naturally low in methionine but can still provide all the necessary amino acids for protein synthesis. Leucine is an important amino acid that can stimulate mTOR and promote growth.

1. Rapamycin can be taken once a week or every other week to optimize its effects.
2. Transplant patients need to take rapamycin daily to suppress mTOR and prevent organ rejection.
3. Side effects of rapamycin can lead to treatment interruptions.
4. Caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, and reducing insulin resistance can effectively inhibit mTOR.
5. Methionine restriction can mimic caloric restriction and inhibit mTOR.
6. Maintaining a healthy weight and waistline is crucial for insulin sensitivity and mTOR regulation.
7. Caloric, protein, and methionine restriction, as well as rapamycin, can improve mitochondrial function.
8. Leucine is an amino acid that can stimulate mTOR and promote growth. Vegan diets are naturally low in methionine.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does rapamycin affect the body's production of mTOR?

Rapamycin interferes with the body's ability to assemble mTOR, preventing its activation and reducing its levels in the body.

Q: Why do transplant patients have to take rapamycin every day?

Transplant patients need to maintain continuous suppression of mTOR to prevent organ rejection. If rapamycin is stopped, mTOR levels can quickly rise and lead to rejection.

Q: What are some alternative ways to inhibit mTOR without using rapamycin?

Other methods to inhibit mTOR include caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, reducing protein intake, and improving insulin sensitivity.

Q: How does methionine restriction affect mTOR levels?

Methionine restriction can mimic caloric restriction and trick the body into thinking it is in a fasting state, which lowers mTOR levels.

Q: Is rapamycin the only drug used to inhibit mTOR?

Rapamycin is commonly used in transplant medicine, but there may be other drugs or interventions that can inhibit mTOR activity in different ways.

Answer: Rapamycin is commonly used in transplant medicine, but there may be other drugs or interventions that can inhibit mTOR activity in different ways. Some potential alternatives to rapamycin include metformin, resveratrol, and exercise. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of these interventions on mTOR and aging.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Rapamycin is taken once a week in varying doses to avoid activating mTOR.

• The drug is used in transplant medicine to suppress mTOR and prevent organ rejection.

• Other ways to inhibit mTOR include caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, and reducing insulin resistance.