Metformin News and Research

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Metformin is the active ingredient in a drug used to treat diabetes mellitus (a condition in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood). It is also being studied in the treatment of cancer. It decreases the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) released into the bloodstream from the liver and increases the body’s use of the glucose. Metformin is a type of antidiabetic agent.

Could a common diabetes drug help prevent long COVID?

Metformin use soon after COVID-19 infection is associated with a 53% reduction in long COVID or death risk, reinforcing previous clinical findings.

10 Nov 2026

A three-drug diabetes pill outperformed dual therapy

Clinical trial results indicate that a fixed-dose combination of dapagliflozin, glimepiride, and metformin offers superior glycemic control in diabetes therapy.

4 Nov 2026

Could GLP-1 drugs help women with PCOS beyond weight loss?

A scoping review of 28 studies suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists may improve androgen levels and menstrual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), alongside their established metabolic benefits. Evidence for improved ovulation, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes remains limited, and the researchers could not determine whether reproductive benefits result directly from the drugs or from weight loss and improved metabolic health.

1 Nov 2026

Low vitamin B12 is linked to heart disease. Supplements tell a different story

A narrative review published in Nutrition Journal examines how vitamin B12 deficiency may contribute to cardiovascular disease through elevated homocysteine, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and altered methylation. The authors found that B12 supplementation has not consistently prevented heart attacks or cardiovascular deaths in clinical trials, although combined B-vitamin therapy may modestly reduce stroke risk, particularly in populations without folic acid fortification.

27 Oct 2026

From turmeric to fenugreek, scientists examine nature’s potential role in diabetes care

A narrative review examined how curcumin, honey, culinary spices, and traditional remedies may influence oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and insulin signaling in diabetes. Although experimental research and some clinical trials suggest potential metabolic benefits, the authors emphasize that larger, well-controlled studies are needed to establish their effectiveness and safety alongside conventional treatments.

14 Oct 2026

Metformin in pregnancy does not raise developmental risk in children

Metformin use during pregnancy shows no link to developmental problems at school entry.

7 Oct 2026

High-fiber diet beats metformin for blood sugar and weight in trial

High-fiber diet improves blood sugar and weight more than metformin in a small diabetes trial.

7 Oct 2026

$Vitamin B12 deficiency was linked to higher fracture hazard after 50$

Vitamin B12 deficiency was linked to higher fracture hazard after 50

A study links abnormal vitamin B12 levels to fracture risk, highlighting a complex relationship beyond simple deficiency in middle-aged and older adults.

2 Oct 2026

Study examines the real-world use of GLP-1 RA drugs in children and young people

New research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2) has examined the real-world use of GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) drugs in children and young people in Germany, Austria and Luxembourg.

30 Sep 2026

Diabetes medication adherence remains low among disadvantaged patients

A new study led by UCLA Health found that a large percentage of disadvantaged patients are not taking their diabetes medications consistently.

23 Sep 2026

GLP-1 drugs and SGLT-2 inhibitors linked to slower kidney decline

The diabetes drugs glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor drugs may also help to slow decline in kidney function in people with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria (high protein levels in the urine), finds a large US study published by The BMJ today.

17 Sep 2026

AI-designed drug candidate reverses biological age in clinical study

Insilico Medicine ("Insilico"), a clinical-stage company focused on generative AI-driven drug discovery and development, today announced the publication of a new study conducted in collaboration with an international team of scientists from Harvard Medical School, Stanford University, The Broad Institute, RWTH Aachen University, Peking University and Westlake University.

7 Sep 2026

Is there a best day to take GLP-1 drugs? Researchers looked for an answer

A systematic review of 1,000 screened records identified only three eligible studies examining administration timing for semaglutide, and none directly compared different days of the week or assessed tirzepatide timing. The limited evidence suggests flexible dosing may support adherence and tolerability without compromising glycemic control or weight loss, but these findings rely largely on indirect evidence and expert opinion rather than direct comparative trials.

30 Aug 2026

Met-HeFT trial finds no cardiovascular benefit from metformin

Metformin did not significantly affect the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and diabetes or at risk of diabetes.

30 Aug 2026

H-ISDN shows no significant benefit in broader heart failure population

In patients with heart failure, hydralazine with isosorbide dinitrate did not significantly improve the incidence of death or heart failure events and treatment discontinuation rates were high.

30 Aug 2026

People with diabetes may have another reason to protect their cardiovascular health

Better cardiovascular health, measured using Life’s Essential 8, was associated with a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment among people with diabetes after accounting for genetic susceptibility. Associations with dementia varied by genetic risk, while higher LE8 scores were also linked to greater gray matter volume and lower white matter hyperintensity volume.

30 Aug 2026

Metformin cuts preterm birth risk among high-risk mothers

A common diabetes medication can reduce the risk of early and preterm births for mothers at high metabolic risk, according to new research led by Monash University.

26 Aug 2026

Scientists compared 51 longevity studies to see which aging biomarkers respond most reliably

Researchers analyzing 51 longitudinal intervention studies found that reliable generation 2+ DNA methylation biomarkers, particularly those predicting mortality or pace of aging, were the most responsive to interventions aimed at longevity or healthspan. Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions produced the strongest biomarker changes, but the authors cautioned that responsiveness does not yet establish these measures as validated surrogate endpoints for slower aging or longer life.

25 Aug 2026

Researchers link GLP-1 drugs to lower tuberculosis risk in type 2 diabetes

A large retrospective cohort study found that GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a lower risk of tuberculosis in people with type 2 diabetes compared with sulfonylureas, metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT2 inhibitors. The observational findings suggest a possible benefit beyond metabolic control, but the authors emphasize that prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to determine whether GLP-1 therapies themselves reduce TB risk.

24 Aug 2026

Type 2 diabetes mechanisms differ significantly based on patient BMI

Research published today in Diabetologia by Amsterdam UMC and the University of Ghana reveals that type 2 diabetes manifests in two fundamentally different ways depending on a patient's body mass index (BMI).

24 Aug 2026