Supplement clears senescent cells and extends lifespan in mice

Researchers screened a library of blood-circulating nutrients and found that vanadyl sulfate (VS), an inorganic mineral supplement, acts as a senolytic agent, meaning it selectively destroys senescent cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The study was published in Nature Aging.

What makes senescent cells vulnerable?

Senescent cells are cells that have stopped dividing but refuse to die. They continuously secrete inflammatory signals that damage surrounding tissue. The study found that senescent cells have globally reduced reactivity of cysteine residues, the protein building blocks that normally guide correct protein folding inside the cell. At the same time, these cells showed elevated levels of an oxidising compound called glutathione disulfide (GSSG).

Vanadyl sulfate targets exactly this vulnerability. It binds to cysteine residues and promotes incorrect protein cross-links, causing proteins to misfold and aggregate, ultimately killing the cell. Because healthy cells have a different cysteine profile, they are largely spared. The enzyme glutathione reductase, which normally breaks down GSSG, was found to be less active in senescent cells, which may explain their selective sensitivity to vanadyl sulfate.

Fewer aging signs and longer lifespan in mice

Male mice given vanadyl sulfate in their drinking water showed improvements across multiple aging indicators. They had less fat accumulation, better muscle endurance, and improved blood glucose regulation compared with untreated old mice. The treated mice also lived longer than controls in this experiment. The researchers emphasise that these are preliminary findings in animals and that translation to humans remains to be investigated.

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