Evidence check: Glukose in the context of longevity

Glucose is a key energy source, but chronically elevated levels (e.g., in diabetes) accelerate aging via glycation and oxidative stress. However, the evidence is mixed: while animal and mechanistic studies (e.g., insulin/IGF-1 signaling) show strong links, human long-term data on causal effects of glucose on lifespan are limited. Observational studies suggest an association between fasting glucose and mortality, but the effect is moderate and confounded by many factors (lifestyle, genetics). A DNA test for single glucose SNPs (e.g., rs5400) provides only a tiny contribution – clinically negligible. For longevity, stable, neither too low nor too high glucose levels and good insulin sensitivity are beneficial. Caveat: extreme glucose-lowering diets can be counterproductive. Evidence: human-moderate.