That is a LOT of acarbose. When I wake up in the morning after acarbose I usually have a gut ache. I just need to eat something to make it go away.

You’re having 18 mg with GFT? of rapa? I don’t know what GFT is but if it has anything to do with Grapefruit, you’re taking way too much. I take either 3 or 4 with GFJ every 2 weeks. When I go higher I get high fasting glucose and very high lipids instead of just High lipids.

I was taking berberine with breakfast and dinner. Now I just take this lower dose extended release with breakfast. Seems like a good switch. I don’t use a CGM.

GFJ… .not GFT lol… I only get gas with acarbose, but I am bigger than you … about 110kg. If I suffer any discomfort, I take 2 active carbon pills. I take metformin and acarbose not because I need to but for the benefits.

I also forgot to mention that normally I only have 1 or 2 meals in a day… so not that much acarbose.

I plan to fast for 4 days after taking rapamycin. My lipids are low… never goes up… all i need to do is dont eat chocolates and I will be fine. Hard to fast on weekly basis. My job involves eating a lot lol.

It seems your dose of Resveratrol is quite high. At that high of a dose, it is causing cell apoptosis which is fine if you are fighting cancer, but as a daily supplement it is beneficial at 100-150 mg. I think you may be hurting yourself with such a large dose daily.

As for Boron, I may give it a go!

I dumped Fisetin as it is a weak senolytic and any benefit is probably negated by the more powerful senomorphics of Rapamycin or Taurine.

As for Taurine, I’d bump it up to 2-4 g daily.

I would dump the Allopurinol for a low dose SGLT2i. You’ll reduce uric acid and reap many other health benefits for around the same cost.

If your HBA1C is 5.5 or below, I’d reduce your Metformin dose to 500 mg as that seems to be an optimal level for non diabetics.

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@DeStrider what’s the rationale on this point?

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@DeStrider are you weighing this specific context here: At (very) high rapa intake there is a risk for rebound effects, and some have suggested that Metformin can help avoid the rebound

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@Neo Thanks for bringing Boron up. I read through the old link about it and it does sound like a good mineral to supplement at 3 mg. I may consider taking it due to thymus and prostate benefits! :slight_smile: Thanks, I’ve learnt something new today.

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Ok, I have a reason, to modulate my SHBG / free testosterone, so was curious if there was any new data/understanding/rationale

@John_Hemming have you changed your mind on boron/or it is based on not needing it based on bloodwork or other priorities?

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Metformin affects your HBA1C which can be affected by Rapamycin. Acarbose also helps. I am convinced that 500 mg of Metformin is beneficial, but studies show that higher doses like 2 g daily become detrimental. If your body doesn’t need the extra 500 mg for glucose control, it doesn’t seem necessary.

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Thx for the info. How do we know we are boron deficit? I’m taking it to help with the joint pain. Just 3mg each day.

As for taurine I consume a lot of red meat… That is why I didn’t increase it. Would I get the benefit to raise it to 2g still?

What is SGLT2i? Like Jardiance? Isn’t that a substitute for metformin or do we take it together?

Thank you for your suggestions.

I’ve changed my mind on Boron (Thanks @Neo ). 3 mg sounds great. I’m going to try it as well.

According to the Taurine guide, you should supplement 1 g for every decade you’ve lived, so a 40-49 yo should take 5 g. It’s a rule of thumb based on dosing conversions based on the famous mouse study.

Jardiance is an SGLT2I. It’s great for removing uric acid, protecting kidneys, losing weight, reducing HBA1C, protecting your brain and heart, etc… They’re wonderful. A low dose 10 mg is very inexpensive from India. I buy a 25 mg and split it in half as they are OK to split.

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I understand those general things, I’m asking something different: if you are taking into account that the context has a massive Rapa dosing and whether

  1. There is risk of rebound effect
  2. You think that rebound effects cannot be helped by Metformin

And asking if (1) or (2) are yes and no, do you think higher metformin vs lower metformin would make a difference in (2)

I would say yes and yes. We know there can be a rebound effect, and we know Metformin counters a lot of the detrimental effects of Rapamycin so as long as I take Rapamycin, I will take Metformin. I’m also teetering on the edge of prediabetes so there’s that as well. (5.4 HBA1C with Metformin, 5.7 without). However going from 500 mg to 1 g daily didn’t move the needle for me.

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Are you in the US, think a lot, if not most of the population is, see this post and other info in the same thread: Supplemental boron (esp for the bones)? - #4 by Neo

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I have been taking 3mg boron daily for a few years because of the argument that it prevents arthritis and background information on this. I had a hair test where boron was OK, but I have not done a blood test.

It strikes me that a small amount of boron is a good thing, but I have not got any anecdotal benefits that I can point to.

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Thanks. And you have not stopped taking it?

I have a lot to catch up on! Should I also consider taurine and boron? I need to be spoon fed :slight_smile:

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I’m not sure. Think each decision needs to be well thought through in the context of the individual and their situation, bloodwork, goals, risk/reward tolerance and taking into account their other supplements and medicines.

Low dose boron is probably quite benign from a risk perspective. Taurine I know less about.

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I put some in my supplement boxes this morning and have done so for a number of years. I can tell you precisely if it matters. But it would need to look up my records.

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@ng0rge, @RobTuck, @DeStrider, @Neo, et. al.

A quick review of the literature suggests that, compared to metformin, berberine has a more positive impact on the kidneys, especially if kidney function is impaired. Metformin is contraindicated for patients with a GFR lower than 45. Berberine, on the other hand, is said to “ameliorate” kidney disease by regulating nephrotoxins in the gut.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383522005184

I’m also waving a yellow flag on boron. There are cases of boron in the water supply that is toxic at low doses. The warning applies especially, @medaura, to the neonatal period.

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