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Ozmpic has received a lot of buzzing in the last year after researchers discovered that its active ingredient can help treat a number of health conditions. But now the researchers have directed the fresh eye to another medicine, originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes: metformin.
Although it has ever been a “simple” medicine for people with type 2 diabetes, metformin is now considered a “miracle medicine with multiple potentials”, He says David Cutler, MD. In fact, recent studies have found that this can help reduce the risk of a long ark in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Long Covid is only the most finding of the potential benefits of the drug. “This opens the door for more research,” says Christina Inteo, Pharm.d., a clinical pharmacy specialist at Corewell Health.
But metformin is not new – it’s actually for decades. “There is so much interest in metformin because it has been around for a long time,” she says. “In addition to the long story, it is also a family, affordable and easily accessible.”
So, what can be used metformin for treatment and how it works? Here’s all you need to know.
What is metformin?
Metformin is a medicine in a class compounds called Biguanides, according to US National MedicineS These drugs reduce the amount of glucose that the body absorbs from food and that the liver produces. Metformin also helps the body use insulin, a hormone that accompanies glucose (blood sugar) to the cells where it is used for energy, according to the US National Medical Library.
Diabetes management is the most common use for metformin and what medicines are currently Approved by FDA For. Metformin helps to manage blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes in several different ways: it helps the body to respond better to insulin, which naturally, reduces the amount of sugar that the liver makes and lowers the amount of sugar that the intestine absorbs from the food, explains Dr. Kathler.
“Metformin is very interesting because there are many ways it works in the body,” says Jamie Allen, Doctor of Sciences., Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University. “While you have good renal function, the side effects are slightly limited.”
Metformin is available to treat type 2 diabetes as it is used with other medicines in some medicines to treat diabetes, according to the US National Medical Library.
Why is it called a “miracle drug”
There are many potential Metformin applications. The keyword is potentialS Because it works in the body in different ways, it is a “good candidate for several different disease conditions,” says Alan.
Covid
A study published last year in the magazine Diabetes Analyzes health records of nearly 76,000 adults who have taken metformin for type 2 diabetes and compare them to more than 13,000 adults who have taken other types of diabetes medicines. Researchers have found that patients who have taken metformin are up to 21% less likely to develop a long cow or die from complications of Covid-19 than those who do not take medication.
But it seems to be able to help people without Diabetes also avoids long fork. Another clinical trial, published in 2023, found that metformin had reduced the risk of long cow by up to 40% in overweight adults or obesity, most of which did not have diabetes.
“Metformin has some immunomodulatory actions,” says Alan – which means it can protect the immune system from overreaches. But the exact reason why metformin can help with Long Covid is “somewhat unclear,” says Alan.
Weight management
Although there are no effects of weight loss on nominal remedies with medicines such as Ozmpic, Wegovy and Zepbound, metformin can help. “Metformin helps with a modest weight loss that varies from person to person,” says Anupam Ohri, MD, Assistant Professor in the Endocrinology Division in Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
A study published earlier this year found that metformin could reduce the hunger in people from medication. This can cause patients to lose about 2% to 3% of their body weight within the first year of taking the drug.
HealthSpan and longevity
D -R Ohri points out that this use of metformin is “controversial” and more research is needed, but there is a “growing interest”, says Inteso when using metformin to slow down the aging process and increase life expectancy. Animal studies have bind drugs with longer mice, Inteso says. “Although this is at the preliminary stage, this may be due to improving insulin resistance, antioxidant effects and blood vessel health,” she says.
Longevity is a potential benefit, but it is a longer “health”, which is the period of time when one enjoys good health. “Effects on insulin signaling are probably included,” says Alan. “Metformin restores insulin sensitivity and this is associated with weight loss and increased health. There are probably other things.”
Heart disease
Although this has been applied only to people with diabetes so far, studies have found a link between metformin and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Among other things, medicines can help reduce the amount of fat in the blood, the body weight of a person and their blood pressure.
This may be linked to Metformin’s ability to lower blood sugar, says Alan, but it’s not yet completely clear. “There may be many mechanisms and there is no consensus at that time,” says Alan.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal condition that can cause a number of health problems, including unwanted face hair, acne, irregular periods, weight gain and infertility. “Improving these symptoms with metformin seems to be probably due to its metabolic effects at the cellular level,” says Dr. Cutler. “But it’s not easy and doesn’t work for everyone.”
Early attempts at PCOS women have found that metformin has helped give little benefit to insulin sensitivity, reduce weight and help recover periods, says Dr. Therefore, metformin is used “outside the label” when people cannot take other medicines, she says. “It can be used in addition to the lifestyle in adults with PCOS,” ORI adds.
Depression
A number of studies published in the last few years have referred to Metformin as a potential antidepressant, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. We do not know the exact mechanism behind this benefit for mental health, but in a examination of the study published earlier this year, scientists have said that “metformin is to reduce the depressive symptoms by directing multiple pathways Anti -inflammatory effects and changes in the gut microbiota. “
Skin cancer
Early studies suggest that people who take metformin have a less chance of developing non-melanoma skin cancers. The study found that people taking the drug had a 67% less chance of developing basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and a 55% lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than people who were not metformin. This is after adjusting the use of other medicines that can increase the risk of someone like hydrochlorothiazide, photosensitizing drugs, tumor necrosis and statin tumor factor inhibitors.
However, it is worth noting that the protective effect of SCC is not significant to black individuals, probably because SCC tends to be associated with scars and inflammation in this group, to which metformin may not have an effect. The scientist says there are a number of other ways in which metformin can reduce the risk of cancer, including several mechanisms for inhibiting cancer cell growth.
Who should consider taking metformin?
If you have type 2 diabetes and are no longer on metformin, doctors say it’s worth asking your own health care provider. “Metformin is a prescription medicine and one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world,” says Dr. Cutler.
Alan agrees. “It’s cheap, with a generally favorable side effect profile,” says Alan. (Gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are the most common potential side effects.)
This said, “It is important to note that if you have a kidney disease or reduced kidney function, or you should not take metformin or take this medicine under the supervision of a healthcare professional,” says Alan.
Lower order
Metformin has long been a reliable medicine to help manage type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes or pre -diabetes, ask your doctor if you are a prescription candidate. Although it can help people without diabetes in certain other conditions, more research is needed to see if it should be even wider for others.
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