This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information presented is based on published research and regulatory information current as of April 2026. All medical decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Do not self-diagnose or self-treat using information from this article. Always consult with a medical professional before starting any longevity protocol.
Who is Peter Attia?
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.
Why This Matters for India
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 ₹2,500-3,500 in India. A vial of rapamycin available for ₹8,000 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.
The Stack: Every Molecule Explained
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 (AMPK Activator)
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 (mTOR Inhibitor)
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+ Precursors: NMN & NR
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-3 (EPA/DHA)
Omega-3 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-3, with emphasis on molecular distillation to remove mercury and PCBs.
Vitamin D3
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Naltrexone is approved in India and available as a prescription medication. Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) at 1.7–4.5 mg/day is an off-label use, but it is legal and available through qualified physicians who can supervise its use appropriately.
Yes. Rapamycin (sirolimus) is approved in India as an immunosuppressant for transplant patients. Longevity dosing (3–6 mg weekly) is off-label use but legal. It requires medical supervision and regular blood work monitoring through a qualified physician. arq coordinates this medical oversight.
A basic supplement foundation (metformin, NMN, omega-3, vitamin D, magnesium) costs ₹3,500–5,500/month. Adding prescription molecules like naltrexone adds ₹2,500–3,500/month. Adding rapamycin pushes the total to ₹8,000–15,000/month. These figures don't include medical consultations and blood work monitoring, which arq coordinates separately.
Exercise. Specifically: 150–180 minutes per week of Zone 2 cardio (moderate intensity) and 1–2 sessions weekly of VO2 max training (high intensity). Attia calls exercise "the most potent longevity lever"—more powerful than any supplement, and it's free. No supplement replaces this.
Build gradually. Start with metformin, vitamin D (after testing levels), and omega-3. These are foundational, affordable, and have strong evidence. After 2–3 months of stable baseline protocols, consider adding NAD+ precursors. Prescription molecules like rapamycin and naltrexone require medical consultation and monitoring—arq physicians will guide this progression based on your health status.
Absolutely. Before any protocol, baseline blood work should include: lipid panel, glucose, HbA1c, liver enzymes (AST, ALT), kidney function (creatinine, eGFR), vitamin D levels, and inflammatory markers (hsCRP). This establishes your baseline and helps your physician individualize your protocol safely. arq coordinates this testing as part of the consultation process.
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