title: Metformin; a review of its history and future: from lilac to longevity.
abstract: Metformin is a widely prescribed medication that has been used to treat children with type 2 diabetes in the United States for the past 15 years. Metformin now has a variety of clinical applications in pediatrics, and its potential clinical uses continue to expand. In addition to reviewing the current understanding of its mechanisms of action including the newly discovered effects on the gastrointestinal tract, we will also discuss current clinical uses in pediatrics, including in type 1 diabetes. Finally, we examine the existing state of monitoring for metformin efficacy and side effects and discuss prospective future clinical uses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Inas
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Brigid
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gregg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000070396:Liliales / Q000737:chemistry*; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D008687:Metformin / Q000266:history / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin
keywords: diabetes; mechanisms; metformin; pediatrics