Longevity
If you've listened to The Huberman Lab Podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, or pretty much any longevity-focused podcast in the last five years, you've heard Peter Attia. He's the physician, researcher, and author of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity—arguably the most influential book on evidence-based lifespan extension in the modern era.
Attia trained at Stanford, worked as a physician, and spent years at McKinsey consulting before pivoting entirely to longevity medicine. Now, through his podcast "The Drive" and his clinical work, he's become the de facto standard-setter for what serious longevity practice looks like.
What makes Attia different: he doesn't just theorize. He tests protocols on himself, publishes the data, and updates his recommendations as evidence evolves. His approach is evidence-first, not supplement-first. When he recommends something, it's because the mechanistic biology checks out and the data supports it—not because it's trendy.
The result? His protocols and supplement stacks have become the template that thousands of biohackers, clinicians, and longevity enthusiasts follow worldwide. And now, they're becoming accessible in India through platforms like arq.
Three critical facts converge to make this moment unique for Indian readers
1. Longevity awareness is exploding. The Huberman Lab and Attia's podcast have millions of Indian listeners. You know what metformin does. You've heard about NAD+ restoration. You understand Zone 2 cardio. But when you try to implement it, you hit a wall: where do you access these things in India? How much will they cost? Are they even legal?
2. India manufactures most of these molecules as generics. Metformin, naltrexone, rapamycin—India's pharmaceutical industry produces the raw material and finished products. The markup between manufacturing cost and US retail price is enormous. A month of naltrexone that costs $200 in the US could cost in India. A vial of rapamycin available for might cost $1,200 in the States.
3. Until now, there was no organized platform connecting you to these molecules legally and safely. You could find naltrexone on chemist shelves or order NMN from sketchy supplements sites, but you had no doctor guidance, no quality assurance, no integration with blood work. That's where arq enters the picture.
Peter Attia's longevity approach uses a foundation of evidence-backed interventions. Below is the complete breakdown of each molecule he's discussed or used—what it does, why he recommends it, and the India-specific context.
Metformin is the workhorse of longevity protocols. It activates AMPK, a master metabolic regulator that mimics some effects of caloric restriction. It improves glucose homeostasis, reduces inflammation, and has been shown in the TAME trial (Targeting Aging with Metformin) to extend healthspan markers.
Attia has discussed metformin extensively on. The Drive, and it's one of the few prescription drugs he personally uses for longevity (rather than for disease management).
Rapamycin (sirolimus) is a powerful mTOR inhibitor—one of the most researched pathways in aging biology. Studies in mice show rapamycin extends lifespan significantly. Attia has used intermittent rapamycin dosing (weekly pulses rather than daily) to minimize side effects while capturing longevity benefits.
It's approved in India for transplant immunosuppression. Longevity dosing is off-label but legal—it just requires a physician's prescription and careful monitoring.
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is the coenzyme of cellular energy and longevity. David Sinclair's research at Harvard demonstrated that NAD+ declines with age, and restoring it activates sirtuins and PARPs—proteins that regulate DNA repair and longevity.
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside) are precursors that boost NAD+ levels. Attia has discussed these extensively and uses them personally.
Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids are foundational for cardiovascular and brain health. EPA reduces inflammation; DHA is essential for cognitive reserve. Attia recommends high-quality fish oil or algae-based omega with emphasis on molecular distillation to remove mercury and PCBs.
Despite India's sunny climate, vitamin D deficiency is endemic. Poor sun exposure, skin pigmentation, and dietary insufficiency leave most Indians with suboptimal levels. Attia emphasizes testing to establish baseline and then supplementing to optimal ranges (40–60 ng/mL).
Peter Attia's longevity framework focuses on 4 pillars: metabolic health, cardiovascular fitness, cancer screening, and cognitive/emotional health. In India, you can replicate most of his protocol through biomarker testing, metformin, rapamycin (physician-supervised), and exercise prescription. Start with a 100+ biomarker panel.
| Intervention | India Availability | Cost/Month | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metformin 500-1000mg | OTC/Rx | ₹200-500 | Kidney function (6mo) |
| Rapamycin 3-6mg weekly | Rx (off-label) | ₹4,500-7,500 | Blood work (monthly) |
| DHEA 25-50mg | Supplement | ₹800-1,200 | Hormones (3mo) |
| Zone 2 training (150-180 min/week) | Free | ₹0 | VO2 max testing (yearly) |
| Strength training (3-4x/week) | Free/paid | ₹0-2,000 | Body composition (3mo) |
| Vitamin D3 5,000 IU | OTC | ₹150-300 | 25-OH vitamin D (6mo) |
| Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) 3-4g | Supplement | ₹400-800 | Lipid panel (yearly) |
| Total (Foundation) | Mixed | ₹2,100-4,300/mo | Quarterly baseline |
Complete metabolic screening: 100+ biomarkers, South Asian thresholds, and baseline protocols for longevity optimization.
Biohacking in India: Practical Implementation GuideEvidence-based biohacking protocols adapted for India: zone 2 training, metabolic optimization, and cost-effective interventions.
NAD+ Supplementation: NMN vs NR in IndiaDeep dive into NAD+ restoration: mechanism, clinical evidence, available products in India, and cost optimization.
Ready to implement evidence-based longevity? arq connects you with qualified physicians experienced in Attia's protocols. Get personalized guidance based on your blood work and health status. Start your consultation →
No AI chat. No templates. A specialist reads your panel against South Asian-calibrated ranges and writes the protocol on a 15–20 minute video consult — inside 7 days of your home draw.