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FRIDAY, July 28, 2023 (HealthDay Information) — The diabetes drug metformin may also profit older sufferers after an harm or sickness, a small research suggests.
Researchers discovered that metformin — a drug that has been round for greater than a half-century to control blood sugar — could have a unique capability: It could goal senescent cells that have an effect on muscle perform. These “zombie-like” cells launch chemical substances linked with irritation that may harden or scar tissues. Metformin works towards these senescent properties, and likewise decreased muscle losing within the research.
“Metformin could possibly be repurposed for different muscle-loss-related medical functions — as an illustration in restoration from hip or knee surgical procedures in aged people the place there’s a lot irritation and muscle atrophy,” stated lead researcher Jonathan Petrocelli, a graduate analysis assistant in bodily remedy and athletic coaching on the College of Utah in Salt Lake Metropolis.
“We’re simply skimming the floor of what’s potential for metformin,” he stated. “This research suggests that there’s nonetheless a lot to grasp relating to the restoration from intervals of disuse.”
Researchers have been capable of make some new connections between mobile senescence and fibrosis, or scarring, that Petrocelli stated raises many new questions.
For the research, Petrocelli’s crew recruited 20 wholesome women and men 60 years of age or older. Over two weeks, they have been both given metformin or a placebo. Then, every group continued their remedy whereas resting in mattress for 5 days.
The thought was to see whether or not metformin may shield towards the muscle loss and scarring typically seen in older adults who’re recovering from an harm or sickness. Researchers used MRIs to trace muscle loss throughout members’ inactive interval.
“We noticed protecting results towards muscle loss, fibrosis, markers of irritation and have been capable of hyperlink a few of these results to metformin’s anti-cellular properties,” Petrocelli stated.
Focusing on these cells and their secretions with therapies like metformin could promote higher muscle restoration, he stated.
“Nonetheless, a lot analysis is required resembling exploration in the usage of metformin or related performing therapies given throughout the restoration interval to see if restoration may be enhanced and even achieved sooner,” Petrocelli added.
Dr. Irina Dashkova is affiliate medical director of geriatric and palliative care at Northwell Well being Stern Household Heart for Rehab in Manhasset, N.Y.
She referred to as the findings spectacular — if metformin may actually play a task in slowing growing old.
“However you can not begin metformin within the hospital for a lot of causes — it’s only for sugar management,” Dashkova stated.
Metformin can have an effect on kidney perform, and it isn’t potential now to inform if utilizing the drug to guard muscle would find yourself damaging the kidneys, Dashkova added.
At this level it will be unwise to take metformin in hopes of defending muscle perform and slowing growing old, she stated.
“It does have negative effects, a few of them lethal,” Dashkova stated, including that extra analysis is required earlier than metformin may be thought-about an anti-aging drug.
The findings have been revealed July 25 within the journal Growing old Cell.
Extra info
The U.S. Nationwide Library of Drugs has extra about metformin.
SOURCES: Jonathan Petrocelli, PhD, graduate analysis assistant, Division of Bodily Remedy and Athletic Coaching, College of Utah, Salt Lake Metropolis; Irina Dashkova, MD, affiliate medical director, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Care, Northwell Well being Stern Household Heart for Rehab, Manhasset, N.Y.; Growing old Cell, July 25, 2023
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