Metformin use in prediabetes: A review of evidence and a focus on metabolic features among peri-menopausal women
Abstract
The prevalence of prediabetes has more than doubled over the past two decades. Although hormones associated with the menstrual cycle may offer some protection against diabetes by enhancing insulin sensitivity and suppressing gluconeogenesis, the prevalence of diabetes among women remains high at 10.5%. Notably, among the perimenopausal population, the prevalence catches up to-and even surpasses-that of men starting from the 70-74 age group, according to the 2021 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report. This narrative review examines the benefits and potential risks of metformin across diverse populations, with a particular emphasis on women in the perimenopausal phase. Metformin's interaction with hormonal regulation significantly influences both its therapeutic efficacy and long-term side effect profile, contributing to sex-specific differences in treatment response. Consequently, its effectiveness varies among women at different stages of menopause, potentially due to differential impacts on inflammatory markers and modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes. Emerging evidence also highlights metformin's potential in managing conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), breast tissue inflammation and endometrial disorders within this demographic. Given these potential and multifaceted benefits, this review highlights the need for further randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate metformin's…
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