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Ahmad R, Haque M. Metformin: Beyond Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Cureus 2024; 16:e71730. [PMID: 39421288 PMCID: PMC11486535 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2024] [Accepted: 10/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Metformin was developed from an offshoot of Guanidine. It is known to be the first-line medication for type 2 diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and weight reduction. Metformin has also been shown to have effectiveness in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver cirrhosis, and various carcinomas like hepatocellular, colorectal, prostate, breast, urinary bladder, blood, melanoma, bone, skin, lung and so on. This narrative review focuses on the effect of metformin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The search platforms for the topic were PubMed, Scopus, and Google search engine. Critical words for searching included 'Metformin,' AND 'Indications of Metformin,' AND 'Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease,' AND 'Metformin mechanism of action,' AND 'NAFLD management,' AND 'NAFLD and inflammation,' AND 'Metformin and insulin,' AND 'Metformin and inflammation,' AND 'Liver cirrhosis,' AND 'Hepatocellular carcinoma.' Lifestyle modification and the use of hypoglycemic agents can help improve liver conditions. Metformin has several mechanisms that enhance liver health, including reducing reactive oxygen species, nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB), liver enzymes, improving insulin sensitivity, and improving hepatic cell lipophagy. Long-term use of metformin may cause some adverse effects like lactic acidosis and gastrointestinal disturbance. Metformin long-term overdose may lead to a rise in hydrogen sulfide in liver cells, which calls for pharmacovigilance. Drug regulating authorities should provide approval for further research, and national and international guidelines need to be developed for liver diseases, perhaps with the inclusion of metformin as part of the management regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahnuma Ahmad
- Department of Physiology, Medical College for Women and Hospital, Dhaka, BGD
| | - Mainul Haque
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, MYS
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Wang K, Chen Y, Zhang M, Wang S, Yao S, Gong Z, Fei B, Huang Z. Metformin suppresses gastric cancer progression by disrupting the STAT1-PRMT1 axis. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116367. [PMID: 38876258 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for patients with unresectable or partially resectable GC. However, its adverse effects and chemoresistance greatly restrict its applicability and efficacy. Although HER2-targeted therapy and immunotherapy have been successfully used for GC treatment, their beneficial population is limited. To expand the range of cancer treatments, drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy. In this study, we evaluated the potential of Metformin, an oral anti-hyperglycemic agent, to suppress GC progression both in vivo and in vitro. Functional investigations showed that Metformin significantly inhibits GC proliferation and migration. Furthermore, we discovered that Metformin bound and disrupted STAT1 phosphorylation, inhibiting PRMT1 expression and consequently GC progression. In conclusion, our study not only provides further evidence for the anti-GC role of Metformin but also identifies the direct target mediating the tumor-inhibitory effects of Metformin in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiqing Wang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meimei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 712046, Shaanxi, China
| | - Suzeng Wang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China
| | - Surui Yao
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhicheng Gong
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Bojian Fei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhaohui Huang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214062, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China.
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Tseng CH. Metformin Reduces the Risk of Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2023; 168:1389-1400. [PMID: 36939574 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the risk of hearing loss with regard to metformin exposure. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort. SETTING Taiwan's National Health Insurance database. METHODS We enrolled 292,071 ever users and 18,200 never users of metformin with new-onset diabetes mellitus from 1999 to 2005 and followed them for hearing loss from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011. Hazard ratios (HRs) weighted by propensity score were estimated. RESULTS Hearing loss was newly diagnosed in 10,085 ever users and 1072 never users. Their respective incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years) were 738.09 and 1366.83. The HR comparing ever-to-never users was 0.534 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.501-0.569]. The HR (95% CI) for the first (<27.07 months), second (27.07-59.13 months), and third (>59.13 months) tertiles of cumulative duration of metformin therapy were 0.912 (0.852-0.975), 0.544 (0.508-0.582), and 0.275 (0.255-0.295), respectively; and were 0.900 (0.841-0.962), 0.531 (0.496-0.569), and 0.293 (0.273-0.315), respectively, for the first (<796.70 g), second (796.70-2020.15 g), and third (>2020.15 g) tertiles of cumulative dose. The magnitude of risk reduction became more remarkable in corresponding to the increasing tertiles of the defined daily dose prescribed. Subtype analyses suggested that the risk reduction was more significant for sensorineural than conductive hearing loss. Findings derived from a propensity score-matched cohort did not substantially change the conclusions, and the risk reduction for mixed hearing loss was not statistically significant in the matched cohort as significantly observed in the unmatched cohort. CONCLUSION The risk of hearing loss is reduced in a dose-response pattern in patients who use metformin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Hsiao Tseng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
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Tseng CH. The Risk of Multiple Myeloma Is Reduced in Metformin Initiators: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14225637. [PMID: 36428730 PMCID: PMC9688273 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14225637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether metformin might reduce the risk of multiple myeloma (MM) has not been extensively researched in humans. METHODS The study subjects were enrolled from the reimbursement database of Taiwan's National Health Insurance. A total of 739,553 patients who had a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus during 1999-2009 were identified. They were categorized as metformin initiators (metformin (+)) and non-metformin initiators (metformin (-)) based on the prescriptions of antidiabetic drugs that included metformin and did not include metformin within the initial 12 months, respectively. MM incidence was calculated after the initial 12 months of treatment group assignment until 31 December 2011. Hazard ratios based on intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) approaches were estimated by Cox regression weighted by propensity scores. RESULTS In the ITT analyses, the respective incidence rates for 497,248 metformin (+) and 242,305 metformin (-) were 9.97 and 14.33 per 100,000 person-years. The hazard ratio that compared metformin (+) to metformin (-) in the ITT analysis was 0.710 (95% confidence interval 0.593-0.850). In the PP analysis, the respective incidence rates were 5.14 and 13.98 per 100,000 person-years, and the hazard ratio was 0.355 (95% confidence interval, 0.270-0.466). The lower risk of MM among metformin (+) was supported by subgroup and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS Type 2 diabetes patients who are initiated with metformin treatment have a significantly lower risk of MM, especially when they adhere to metformin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Hsiao Tseng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan;
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Zhunan 35053, Taiwan
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Wang Y, Yu L, Ye Z, Lin R, Sun AR, Liu L, Wei J, Deng F, Zhong X, Cui L, Li L, Liu Y. Association of metformin use with fracture risk in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1038603. [PMID: 36714564 PMCID: PMC9874692 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1038603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Increasing evidence suggests that metformin can affect bone metabolism beyond its hypoglycemic effects in diabetic patients. However, the effects of metformin on fracture risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients remain unclear. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in this study to evaluate the association between metformin application and fracture risk in T2DM patients based on previous studies published until June 2021. METHODS A systematic search was performed to collect publications on metformin application in T2DM patients based on PubMed, Embase, Cochran, and Web of Science databases. Meta-analysis was performed by using a random-effects model to estimate the summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses based on cohort/case-control and ethnicity and sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results demonstrated metformin use was not significantly associated with a decreased risk of fracture (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.81-1.02; I2 = 96.8%). Moreover, metformin use also demonstrated similar results in subgroup analyses of seven cohort studies and four case-control studies, respectively (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.76-1.07; I2 = 98.0%; RR, 0.96; 96% CI, 0.89-1.03; I2 = 53.7%). Sensitivity analysis revealed that there was no publication bias. CONCLUSION There was no significant correlation between fracture risk and metformin application in T2DM patients. Due to a limited number of existing studies, further research is needed to make a definite conclusion for clinical consensus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Wang
- Zhanjiang Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Technology and Trauma Treatment, Zhanjiang Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drug, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Liming Yu
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Zhiqiang Ye
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drug, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Rui Lin
- Zhanjiang Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Technology and Trauma Treatment, Zhanjiang Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drug, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Antonia RuJia Sun
- Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Center for Translational Medicine Research and Development, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Lingna Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drug, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Marine Medical Research Institute of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Jinsong Wei
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Feifu Deng
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xiangxin Zhong
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Liao Cui
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drug, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Yanzhi Liu, ; Li Li, ; Liao Cui,
| | - Li Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drug, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Yanzhi Liu, ; Li Li, ; Liao Cui,
| | - Yanzhi Liu
- Zhanjiang Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Technology and Trauma Treatment, Zhanjiang Central Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drug, School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
- Marine Medical Research Institute of Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Yanzhi Liu, ; Li Li, ; Liao Cui,
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Tseng CH. Metformin and Risk of Malignant Brain Tumors in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081226. [PMID: 34439890 PMCID: PMC8391370 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk of malignant brain tumors associated with metformin use has rarely been investigated in humans. This retrospective cohort study investigated such an association. Patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosed from 1999 to 2005 in the nationwide database of Taiwan’s national health insurance were used to enroll study subjects. We first identified an unmatched cohort of 153,429 ever users and 16,222 never users of metformin. A cohort of 16,222 ever users and 16,222 never users matched on propensity score was then created from this unmatched cohort. All patients were followed up from 1 January 2006 until 31 December 2011. The incidence density was calculated and hazard ratios were derived from Cox regression incorporated with the inverse probability of treatment weighting using a propensity score. The results showed that 27 never users and 155 ever users developed malignant brain tumors in the unmatched cohort. The incidence rate was 37.11 per 100,000 person-years in never users and 21.39 per 100,000 person-years in ever users. The overall hazard ratio comparing ever users versus never users was 0.574 (95% confidence interval: 0.381–0.863). The respective hazard ratios comparing the first (<27.13 months), second (27.13–58.33 months), and third (>58.33 months) tertiles of cumulative duration of metformin therapy versus never users were 0.897 (0.567–1.421), 0.623 (0.395–0.984), and 0.316 (0.192–0.518). In the matched cohort, the overall hazard ratio was 0.317 (0.149–0.673) and the respective hazard ratios were 0.427 (0.129–1.412), 0.509 (0.196–1.322), and 0.087 (0.012–0.639) for the first, second, and third tertile of cumulative duration of metformin therapy. In conclusion, this study shows a risk reduction of malignant brain tumors associated with metformin use in a dose–response pattern. The risk reduction is more remarkable when metformin has been used for approximately 2–5 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Hsiao Tseng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan;
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
- Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan 350, Taiwan
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