Hormonal
Metformin improves healthspan and reduces early mortality from age-related diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes) but does not directly extend maximum lifespan in humans.
If you have Type 2 Diabetes or are at high risk, metformin is a standard, safe, and effective treatment that significantly reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, and early death. While it may not make you live to 100, it helps you stay healthy longer by managing blood sugar and protecting your blood vessels. Discuss with your doctor if it is appropriate for you, keeping in mind potential stomach upset which can often be managed.
we conclude that the beneficial effects of metformin on aging and healthspan are primarily indirect via its effects on cellular metabolism and result from its anti-hyperglycemic action... Based on the available evidence we conclude that the beneficial effects of metformin on aging and healthspan are primarily indirect... the evidence that metformin increases lifespan remains controversial.
Why this rating
Based on a critical review of multiple large-scale clinical trials (UKPDS, MILES, ORIGIN) and pre-clinical studies, though the authors note controversies and mixed pre-clinical results.
Source
A Critical Review of the Evidence That Metformin Is a Putative Anti-Aging Drug That Enhances Healthspan and Extends Lifespan
Ibrahim Mohammed et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2021
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2021.718942
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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