Metformin beyond diabetes: new life for an old drug.
Metformin is a widely used drug in the therapy of patients affected by diabetes mellitus. Although some caution is needed in the very old, advanced age per se does not represent a contraindication to metformin use. Despite the fact that its precise mechanism of action it is not completely elucidated, long-term treatment with this drug in monotherapy, improves glycaemic control and reduces cardiovascular mortality in overweight type 2 diabetic patients. Experimental evidence produced over the years suggests that metformin may be useful in some clinical conditions different from diabetes mellitus. In the present review we have examined currently available data about the possible use of metformin as an effective therapeutical agent in pathological conditions different from type 2 diabetes mellitus. On the basis of our investigation, the use of metformin can be suggested in overweigth patients affected by impaired glucose tolerance and/or fasting hyperglycaemia and in subjects affected by polycystic ovary syndrome, while further data are needed in order to prescribe such a drug in patients affected by non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis and in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy.
Rotella
Carlo M
CM
Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Florence Medical School, Florence, Italy. c.rotella@dfc.unifi.it
Monami
Matteo
M
Mannucci
Edoardo
E
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin