Benefits of Metformin
- Activates Longevity Pathways: Stimulates longevity pathways within the body, promoting overall well-being and potentially extending lifespan.
- Reduces Insulin Resistance: Significantly decreases insulin resistance, helping to regulate blood sugar levels and potentially preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.
- Combats Inflammaging: Reduces chronic inflammation in the body, counteracting the effects of inflammaging, which is associated with various age-related diseases and conditions.
- Boosts NAD+ Levels: Increases NAD+ levels, a coenzyme involved in energy metabolism and cellular repair processes, contributing to improved cellular health and function.
- Lowers Cancer Risk: Potentially lowers the risk of colon and pancreatic cancer, providing an additional layer of protection against these malignancies.
- Protects Cognitive Health: May reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, promoting long-term brain health and preserving cognitive function.
- Reduces Macrovascular Disease Risk: Shows promise in reducing the risk of macrovascular diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke, by improving vascular health and reducing associated risk factors.
- Aids in Weight Loss: Facilitates weight loss in individuals, particularly those with obesity or metabolic syndrome, by helping to regulate appetite, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote fat loss.
- Prevents Diabetes: By addressing insulin resistance and regulating blood sugar levels, metformin can significantly reduce the chances of developing diabetes, particularly in individuals at high risk.
What Can I Expect?
When starting metformin, you can expect it to gradually improve your blood sugar levels, particularly if you have type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance. Initially, you may experience some mild gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, or stomach upset, but these usually diminish as your body adjusts to the medication. To minimize these effects, your doctor may start you on a low dose and gradually increase it. Benefits, such as lower fasting blood glucose levels and improved HbA1c, can often be seen within a few weeks to a few months of consistent use.
Additionally, metformin may lead to modest weight loss or stabilization, especially if combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. It's important to be patient, as the full benefits of metformin may take several months to become evident, particularly in terms of long-term improvements in metabolic health and potential reductions in cardiovascular risk.
Molecular Pathways of Metformin
Metformin impacts several aging pathways within the body:
- Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling Pathway: Reduces insulin resistance, regulating blood sugar levels and modulating the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway associated with aging and age-related diseases.
- AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Activation: Activates AMPK, enhancing metabolic processes and promoting cellular homeostasis, potentially influencing aging processes.
- mTOR Pathway: Inhibits the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, regulating cellular processes associated with aging.
- Inflammation: Demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory molecules and modulating immune responses, mitigating inflammaging and related age-related conditions.
- DNA Damage and Repair: Influences DNA damage and repair mechanisms, enhancing DNA repair processes and reducing the accumulation of DNA damage that occurs with age.