Peptide Engine | The Complete Guide to Peptides, Biohacking & Longevity Medicine

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PEPTIDEENGINEBiohacking & Longevity

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🧐 Deep Dive: The AMPK / mTOR Seesaw

AMPK (Maintenance)

Anti-Aging

Triggered by Metformin, Fasting, Exercise.

"Clean up and burn fuel." Anti-cancer, Anti-aging.

Autophagy activation
Mitochondrial biogenesis
Fat oxidation

mTOR (Growth)

Anabolic

Triggered by Protein, Insulin.

"Build muscle and divide." Anabolic.

Protein synthesis
Cell growth
Muscle hypertrophy

The Conflict:

Taking Metformin post-workout blunts the mTOR signal, potentially reducing muscle growth. Take Metformin away from training (morning or bedtime).

💊 The Agents of Control

Agent	Mechanism	Pros	Cons
Metformin	AMPK Activator	✓ Most studied longevity drug. Cheap.	⚠️ GI issues. Blunts muscle growth.
Berberine	"Natural Metformin"	✓ No Rx needed. Lowers lipids.	⚠️ Poor bioavailability (use Dihydro).
Acarbose	Blocks Carb Digestion	✓ Reduces post-meal spikes massively.	⚠️ Gas/Bloating.
SGLT2i (Canagliflozin)	Pee out sugar	✓ Strong life extension signal (ITP).	⚠️ UTI risk. Dehydration.

📋 Protocol Guidelines

Metformin Protocol:

Starting Dose: 500mg twice daily with meals
Target Dose: 1000-2000mg daily (Extended Release preferred)
Timing: Avoid post-workout (spares mTOR)
GI Issues: Extended Release reduces side effects by 70%

Berberine Protocol:

Dose: 500mg (Dihydro-Berberine) 2-3x daily with meals
Note: Use Dihydro-Berberine for better absorption (3-5x bioavailability)

The 'Traffic Cop' Analogy

Insulin is the Traffic Cop directing sugar (cars) into muscle/fat (parking lots). When the cop is tired (Insulin Resistance), cars jam the highway (High Blood Sugar). These agents help restore order.