Is metformin really a “miracle cure”?

But metformin isn't new – in fact, it's been around for decades. “There is so much interest in metformin because it has been around for quite some time,” she says. “In addition to its long history, it is also generic, affordable and easily accessible.”

What can Metformin be treated with and how does it work? Here you will find everything you need to know.

Metformin is a drug from a class of compounds called biguanides US National Library of Medicine. These medications reduce the amount of glucose that the body absorbs from food and that the liver produces. According to the US National Library of Medicine, metformin also helps the body use insulin, a hormone that transports glucose (blood sugar) to cells where it is used for energy.

Treating diabetes is the most common use of metformin and what the drug currently is FDA approved for. Metformin helps regulate blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes in several ways: it helps the body respond better to the insulin it naturally produces, reduces the amount of sugar the liver produces, and reduces the amount of sugar that the intestine absorbs from food, explains Dr. Cutler.

“Metformin is very interesting because it works in the body in a variety of ways,” he says Jamie Alan, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. “As long as you have good kidney function, the side effects are fairly limited.”

Metformin is available as is to treat type 2 diabetes and is also used with other drugs in some medications to treat diabetes, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

There are many uses for metformin. The key word is potential. Because it works in different ways in the body, it is “a good candidate for different disease states,” says Alan.

Long COVID

New research results published in the journal Diabetes care analyzed the health data of nearly 76,000 adults who took metformin for type 2 diabetes and compared them with more than 13,000 adults who took other types of diabetes medications. The researchers found that patients who took metformin were up to 21% less likely to develop long COVID or die from complications of COVID-19 than those who did not take the drug .

But it seems like it can help people too without Diabetes also avoid long COVID. Another clinical trial published in 2023 found that metformin reduced the risk of long COVID by up to 40% in adults who were overweight or obese, most of whom did not have diabetes.

“Metformin has some immunomodulatory effects,” says Alan – meaning it can prevent the immune system from overreacting. But the exact reason why metformin might help with long COVID is “somewhat unclear,” says Alan.

Weight management

While metformin does not have a similar effect on weight loss as medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, it can help. “Metformin helps with mild weight loss, which varies from person to person,” he says Anupam Ohri, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Endocrinology at Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

A study published earlier this year found that metformin can reduce feelings of hunger in people taking the drug. 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

Dr. Ohri points out that this use of metformin is “controversial” and more research is needed, but according to Inteso, there is “growing interest in the use of metformin to slow the aging process and increase life expectancy.” Animal studies have linked the drug to longer lifespans in mice, Inteso says. “Although this is still early stages, it could be due to improved insulin resistance, antioxidant effects and improvement in blood vessel health,” she says.

One potential benefit is longevity, but also a longer “healthspan,” the length of time a person enjoys good health. “Effects on insulin signaling are likely involved,” says Alan. “Metformin restores insulin sensitivity, and this has been associated with weight loss and an increase in healthspan. There are probably other things at play.”

heart disease

While this only applies to people with diabetes so far, research has found a link between metformin and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The drug can help reduce a person's fat levels, body weight, and blood pressure, among other things.

This may be related to metformin's ability to lower blood sugar, says Alan, but it's still not entirely clear. “There could be multiple mechanisms and there is currently no consensus,” says Alan.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder that can cause a range of health problems, including unwanted facial hair, acne, irregular periods, weight gain and infertility. “Metformin’s improvement in these symptoms appears likely to be due to its metabolic effects at the cellular level,” says Dr. Cutler. “But it’s not a cure and it doesn’t work for everyone.”

Early studies in women with PCOS found that metformin contributed a small benefit in insulin sensitivity, weight loss, and period restoration, says Dr. Ohri. For this reason, metformin is used “off-label” when people cannot take other medications, she says. “It can be used as an adjunct to lifestyle interventions in adults with PCOS,” adds Ohri.

If you have type 2 diabetes and are not already taking metformin, doctors recommend asking your doctor about the medication. “Metformin is a prescription medication and one of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide,” says Dr. Cutler.

Alan agrees. “It’s inexpensive and generally has a favorable side effect profile,” says Alan. (Gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common possible side effects.)

However, “it is important to note that if you have kidney disease or impaired kidney function, you should either not take metformin or take this medication under the supervision of a doctor,” says Alan.

Metformin has long been a proven medication for treating type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, ask your doctor if you qualify for a prescription. While it may help people without diabetes with certain other conditions, more research is needed to determine whether it should be used even more widely in others.