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Diabetologia
Published in: Diabetologia 9/2017

01-09-2017 | Review

Metformin and ageing: improving ageing outcomes beyond glycaemic control

Authors: Willy Marcos Valencia, Ana Palacio, Leonardo Tamariz, Hermes Florez

Published in: Diabetologia | Issue 9/2017

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Abstract

In a world where the population is ageing, there is growing interest and demand for research evaluating strategies that address the ageing process. After 60 years of successful use of metformin in our pharmaceutical armamentarium, we are learning that, beyond improving glycaemic control, metformin may have additional mechanisms and pathways of action that need further study. Although, metformin’s effect on clinical ageing outcomes may still be considered speculative, the findings from studies into cellular and animal models and from observational and pilot human studies support the existence of beneficial effects on ageing. At present, progress for human research, using randomised clinical trials to evaluate metformin’s clinical impact, has just started. Here, we present a review on the ageing process and the mechanisms involved, and the role that metformin may have to counter these. We go on to discuss the upcoming large randomised clinical trials that may provide insight on the use of metformin for ageing outcomes beyond glycaemic control.
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Metadata
Title
Metformin and ageing: improving ageing outcomes beyond glycaemic control
Authors
Willy Marcos Valencia
Ana Palacio
Leonardo Tamariz
Hermes Florez
Publication date
01-09-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Diabetologia / Issue 9/2017
Print ISSN: 0012-186X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0428
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-017-4349-5

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