Effects of metformin in obesity treatment in different populations: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: Some studies have shown that metformin can reduce body weight. However, metformin has not been officially approved as a medicine for weight loss because its effect on different populations remains inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the weight loss effect of metformin quantitatively. Method: The randomized controlled and high-quality case-control trials of metformin monotherapy in obesity treatment were eligible. Baseline body mass index (BMI) was chosen as a self-control to compare the changes in BMI of different populations before and after treatment. All changes were calculated as differences between the final and initial BMI values (with negative values indicating a decrease). Results were presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI 95%). Subgroup analysis was performed based on baseline BMI, age, daily dose, and duration of medication. Results: A total of 21 trials ( n = 1004) were included, and the meta-analysis of metformin treatment in different populations showed that metformin has a modest reduction in the BMI of included participants (WMD −0.98; 95% CI, −1.25 to −0.72), and the reduction of BMI was most significant in the simple obesity population (WMD −1.31; 95% CI, −2.07 to −0.54). The subgroup analysis showed that metformin treatment significantly reduced BMI in obesity patients with a BMI >35kg/m2 (WMD −1.12; 95% CI, −1.84 to −0.39) compared with before treatment. BMI in the high dose group decreased by 1.01 units (WMD−1.01; 95% CI, −1.29 to −0.73) and BMI did not continue to decrease significantly after treatment of more than 6 months. Conclusion: Patients treated with metformin experienced about a one-unit reduction in BMI at the end of treatment. But whether this decreased value produced enough weight loss (5% of baseline body weight) to qualify as a “weight loss drug” as current guidelines require, requires larger specific randomized control trials.

Hormonal and metabolic profiles of obese and nonobese type 2 diabetes patients: implications of plasma insulin, ghrelin, and vitamin D levels

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Ficus carica and Sizigium cumini Regulate Glucose and Lipid Parameters in High-Fat Diet and Streptozocin-Induced Rats

“…at both low (250 mg/kg) and high dose (500 mg/kg) was able to decrease the body weight to some extent. Metformin was used as a standard drug, which is well known to reduce body weights [ 35 ]. Interestingly, the ability of SC.Cr.…”

The Current and Potential Therapeutic Use of Metformin—The Good Old Drug

“…Hyperglycemia-related inflammation and oxidative stress are closely associated with IR and all these abnormalities affect beta cell leading to its secretory dysfunction and increased apoptosis resulting in T2DM development and progression [ 41 , 105 , 106 ]. Moreover, studies show that metformin slightly reduces body mass and arterial blood pressure in overweight and obese people [ 107 , 108 , 109 ]. It may also improve lipid profile and balance between profibrinolytic and anti-thrombotic factors [ 5 , 110 ].…”