Antibiotic helps gut bacteria make life-extending compounds
Scientists just found that small doses of the antibiotic cephaloridine can "reprogram" gut bacteria to make colanic acid—a compound that boosted lifespan in animal tests.
This could open up new ways to use our own microbiome for longer, healthier lives.
How does it work?
Cephaloridine gets E. coli in the gut to pump out more colanic acid.
In roundworms, this meant living up to 30% longer.
Mice given this compound had healthier guts, less inflammation, and better cell energy.
Different effects for guys and girls
In mice, male and female bodies responded differently: males saw improved cholesterol, while females had lower insulin levels.
The antibiotic mostly stays in the gut, so it works on bacteria without spreading much through the body.
What's next?
Cephaloridine itself isn't safe for people, but this research points to a new strategy—using drugs to get our gut bacteria making helpful stuff for us.
It's a fresh way of thinking about longevity treatments that could one day help humans live healthier for longer.