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Dihoum A, Rena G, Pearson ER, Lang CC, Mordi IR. Metformin: evidence from preclinical and clinical studies for potential novel applications in cardiovascular disease. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023; 32:291-299. [PMID: 36972373 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2196010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For a long time, metformin has been the first-line treatment for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes, however, the results of recent cardiovascular outcome trials of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists have caused many to question metformin's position in the guidelines. Although there are several plausible mechanisms by which metformin might have beneficial cardiovascular effects, for example its anti-inflammatory effects and metabolic properties, and numerous observational data suggesting improved cardiovascular outcomes with metformin use, the main randomised clinical trial data for metformin was published over 20 years ago. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of participants in contemporary type 2 diabetes trials were prescribed metformin. AREAS COVERED In this review we will summarise the potential mechanisms of cardiovascular benefit with metformin, before discussing clinical data in individuals with or without diabetes. EXPERT OPINION Metformin may have some cardiovascular benefit in patients with and without diabetes, however the majority of clinical trials were small and are before the use SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP1-RAs. Larger contemporary randomised trials with metformin evaluating its cardiovascular benefit are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Dihoum
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Rena
- Division of Cellular Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Ewan R Pearson
- Division of Population Health and Genomics, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Chim C Lang
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Ify R Mordi
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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Stultiens JMG, Top WMC, Kimenai DM, Lehert P, Bekers O, Stehouwer CDA, Kooy A, Meex SJR. Metformin and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and T trajectories in type 2 diabetes patients: a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2022; 21:49. [PMID: 35379238 PMCID: PMC8981770 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-022-01482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin has favorable effects on cardiovascular outcomes in both newly onset and advanced type 2 diabetes, as previously reported findings from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study and the HOME trial have demonstrated. Patients with type 2 diabetes present with chronically elevated circulating cardiac troponin levels, an established predictor of cardiovascular endpoints and prognostic marker of subclinical myocardial injury. It is unknown whether metformin affects cardiac troponin levels. The study aimed to evaluate cardiac troponin I and T trajectories in patients with diabetes treated either with metformin or placebo. METHODS This study is a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial (HOME trial) that included 390 patients with advanced type 2 diabetes randomized to 850 mg metformin or placebo up to three times daily concomitant to continued insulin treatment. Cardiac troponin I and T concentrations were measured at baseline and after 4, 17, 30, 43 and 52 months. We evaluated cardiac troponin trajectories by linear mixed-effects modeling, correcting for age, sex, smoking status and history of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS This study enrolled 390 subjects, of which 196 received metformin and 194 received placebo. In the treatment and placebo groups, mean age was 64 and 59 years; with 50% and 58% of subjects of the female sex, respectively. Despite the previously reported reduction of macrovascular disease risk in this cohort by metformin, linear mixed-effects regression modelling did not reveal evidence for an effect on cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T levels [- 8.4% (- 18.6, 3.2), p = 0.150, and - 4.6% (- 12, 3.2), p = 0.242, respectively]. A statistically significant time-treatment interaction was found for troponin T [- 1.6% (- 2.9, - 0.2), p = 0.021] but not troponin I concentrations [- 1.5% (- 4.2, 1.2), p = 0.263]. CONCLUSIONS In this post-hoc analysis of a 4.3-year randomized controlled trial, metformin did not exert a clinically relevant effect on cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T levels when compared to placebo. Cardioprotective effects of the drug observed in clinical studies are not reflected by a reduction in these biomarkers of subclinical myocardial injury. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT00375388.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M G Stultiens
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Wiebe M C Top
- Department of Intensive Care, Care Group Treant, Emmen, The Netherlands.,Bethesda Diabetes Research Center, Hoogeveen, The Netherlands
| | - Dorien M Kimenai
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Philippe Lehert
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Economics, Facultés Universitaires Catholiques de Mons, Louvain Academy, Mons, Belgium
| | - Otto Bekers
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Coen D A Stehouwer
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan Kooy
- Department of Intensive Care, Care Group Treant, Emmen, The Netherlands.,Bethesda Diabetes Research Center, Hoogeveen, The Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Steven J R Meex
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands. .,CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Top WMC, Kooy A, Stehouwer CDA. Metformin: A Narrative Review of Its Potential Benefits for Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer and Dementia. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15030312. [PMID: 35337110 PMCID: PMC8951049 DOI: 10.3390/ph15030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The biguanide metformin has been used as first-line therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treatment for several decades. In addition to its glucose-lowering properties and its prevention of weight gain, the landmark UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) demonstrated cardioprotective properties in obese T2DM patients. Coupled with a favorable side effect profile and low cost, metformin has become the cornerstone in the treatment of T2DM worldwide. In addition, metformin is increasingly being investigated for its potential anticancer and neuroprotective properties both in T2DM patients and non-diabetic individuals. In the meantime, new drugs with powerful cardioprotective properties have been introduced and compete with metformin for its place in the treatment of T2DM. In this review we will discuss actual insights in the various working mechanisms of metformin and the evidence for its beneficial effects on (the prevention of) cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. In addition to observational evidence, emphasis is placed on randomized trials and recent meta-analyses to obtain an up-to-date overview of the use of metformin in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebe M. C. Top
- Department of Intensive Care, Treant Care Group, 7909 AA Hoogeveen, The Netherlands;
| | - Adriaan Kooy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Treant Care Group, 7909 AA Hoogeveen, The Netherlands
- Bethesda Diabetes Research Center, 7909 AA Hoogeveen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
| | - Coen D. A. Stehouwer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands;
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