Reappraisal of metformin : less restrictions and more potential indications
Abstract
While commercialized since over 60 years, metformin is still the first-line drug recommended for the management of type 2 diabetes and is thus today the first glucose-lowering agent used worldwide. Despite this long experience, metformin retains its mysteries, especially regarding the underlying mechanisms responsible for its antidiabetic activity and other potential beneficial effects. During the last years, some contra-indications of metformin use have been at least partially withdrawn while new indications have been recognized. Furthermore, interesting prospects have been reported in important, although unexpected, medical areas such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, promising results in animal studies and observational human studies have now to be confirmed in well conducted randomized controlled trials.
Commercialisée depuis plus de 60 ans, la metformine est recommandée en première intention dans le traitement du diabète de type 2, ce qui en fait, aujourd’hui, le médicament anti-hyperglycémiant le plus prescrit à travers le monde. Malgré cette longue expérience, la metformine garde ses mystères, notamment quant aux mécanismes qui sous-tendent son action antidiabétique et d’autres effets potentiels. Au cours des dernières années, certaines contre-indications à l’utilisation de la metformine ont été, au moins partiellement, levées tandis que de nouvelles indications apparaissent avec, par ailleurs, des perspectives intéressantes dans des domaines aussi…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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