NEW YORK, August 25 (UPI) —Medical research keeps advancing with fresh and creative methods to enhance health and wellness, yet an older medication—metformin—could be the solution for extending human life and avoiding serious diseases, according to experts from UPI.
Metformin, which has been utilized to manage Type 2 diabetes since the 1950s, has recently gained attention as a potential preventive drug for conditions such as dementia, heart disease, and specific forms of cancer.
Even though the drug has existed for many years, new studies have recently discovered its possible advantages.
This study has been driven, at least partially, by the comparable advantages linked to a different group of medications used for Type 2 diabetes and/or weight management, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
These medications, such as semaglutide, sold under the brand names Rybelsus for managing Type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight reduction, along with tirzepatide, known as Mounjaro, help reduce blood sugar levels and enhance weight loss. This leads to better overall health for individuals using them and decreases their chances of developing heart disease and other serious medical issues.
“Metformin is an ancient medication, and it has been the preferred treatment for diabetes since the 1950s,” stated Dr. Jawahar L. “Jay” Mehta, who serves as the chair of the Cardiology Division at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
However, “recently it has become clear that metformin offers a range of additional” potential advantages, Mehta said in an email to UPI.
Derived from a plant
How and why might this older medication offer the potential for lasting wellness?
Metformin comes from the plant Galega officinalis, also known as galega or goat’s-rue, which is naturally present in areas of northern Africa, western Asia, and Europe, but is commonly cultivated in other regions, according to Mehta.
For centuries, it has been utilized as a medicinal herb to support digestive health and address urinary issues and various other health concerns. Harvard Health notes that it was discovered just over a hundred years ago that it can help reduce blood sugar levels.
The medication was authorized for use in individuals with Type 2 diabetes in Europe during the 1950s and received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in the United States in 1995 for the same indication.
Metformin is part of a class of medications known as biguanides and acts as an effective diabetes medication by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver, according to Mehta.
“It decreases the absorption of glucose in the intestines and enhances the body’s response to insulin,” stated Mehta, who has published astudyin June, emphasizing the drug’s additional impacts on the body that could lead to potential health advantages.
Among them is the activation of adenosine monophosphate protein kinase, a compound that boosts energy within the body’s cells and plays a role in metabolic processes, which may account for the drug’s effectiveness in promoting weight loss, he stated.
Metformin could also decrease the body’s creation of reactive oxygen species, which are oxygen-based molecules, according to Mehta.
“Several of these effects can be attributed to regulation of blood sugar, but other actions of metformin … could also account for its notable and distinct heart-protecting benefits,” he added.
Excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species can exceed the body’s ability to neutralize them, resulting in oxidative stress and possibly contributing to heart failure, atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of fats, cholesterol, and other materials on the inner walls of arteries, along with various cardiovascular issues.
“Excess production of reactive oxygen species and inflammation are believed to be connected to dementia and chronic pain,” Mehta stated.
“It might be that metformin enhances these medical conditions by decreasing reactive oxygen species,” he stated.
Metformin and cancer
Among individuals aged 50 and above, metformin might also reduce levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, a hormone linked to bone and muscle growth, according to scientists.
While helpful for development in children, the hormone, when present in high levels, has been associated with a higher risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer.
“Preclinical research has demonstrated that metformin can affect key and significant proteins, eventually inhibiting the growth of cancer cells,” said Dr. David J. Benjamin, a medical oncologist at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute in Newport Beach, California, in an email to UPI.
“Furthermore, observational studies that included large numbers of people with various types of cancer, including lung cancer, have indicated that individuals who used metformin tended to have longer survival rates compared to those who did not use it,” he stated.
Metformin miracle?
So, is metformin considered a miracle medication? Should everyone take it to enhance their health and possibly extend their lifespan? Not quite, as experts suggest.
“Some doctors are firmly convinced of the ‘positive’ effects of metformin and prescribe it to influence aging, but there is no scientific evidence supporting this method,” Mehta stated.
The possible health advantages of metformin suggest the medication “could have a part in extending lifespan… however, there is a shortage of strong evidence in humans to confirm if this is accurate,” Benjamin stated.
“It would be difficult to conduct a clinical trial because numerous elements influence a person’s lifespan, including existing health issues, previous social and environmental exposures, and genetic factors, to name a few,” he stated.
The medication could also interfere with specific cancer treatments, indicating that individuals who have cancer and are undergoing treatment might experience difficulties in taking it, Benjamin noted.
There is also the possibility of experiencing side effects while taking metformin, such as abdominal or stomach discomfort, cough or voice hoarseness, reduced appetite, diarrhea, a general sense of unease, pain in the lower back or sides, and muscle pain or cramps.
As much as 6% of individuals taking metformin who experience diarrhea that lasts longer than a week might not have the necessary “transporters” for the medication to be properly absorbed by cells, which can affect its effectiveness, according to Dr. Nir Barzilai, a geneticist and endocrinologist who serves as the director of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Furthermore, individuals under the age of 50 without Type 2 diabetes should avoid taking metformin, as they still require insulin-like growth factor 1 for proper muscle and bone development, he mentioned.
Nevertheless, for individuals aged 50 and older, the beneficial effects of the drug related to aging may soon be backed by more scientific research, as he and his team are beginning clinical trials aimed at convincing the FDA to approve it as a therapy for aging, Barzilai said during a phone interview with UPI.
The procedure will require multiple years, but Barzilai mentioned he already has informal evidence suggesting the medication enhances healthy aging — his 87-year-old aunt persuaded her physician to administer the drug, “despite the fact that she is slim and does not have diabetes,” and she has observed some positive effects.
“For many years, she would frequently catch the flu and become very ill — she no longer gets the flu since beginning metformin,” Barzilai stated.
He stated: “There are 12 indicators of healthy aging, such as immune system function, and we are discovering that metformin affects all of them.”
