Benefits of Metformin

If you or someone you know has diabetes, you’ve likely heard of metformin, a drug that’s primarily prescribed to support better blood sugar regulation. But did you know that metformin is also a popular weight loss medication? 

While metformin is only FDA-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, some healthcare providers prescribe it off-label (meaning, for a purpose other than what it’s FDA-approved to do) for weight loss. Many people find the addition of metformin to their healthy lifestyle helps with achieving weight loss goals. There are other metformin health benefits as well.

We’ve broken down seven science-backed metformin benefits, detailing how it supports weight loss and other areas of wellness.

The official use of metformin is to lower blood sugar for people with type 2 diabetes. 

Metformin does this by improving the body’s response to insulin while decreasing the amount of blood sugar that is produced by your liver and absorbed by your intestines or stomach. 

According to the American Diabetes Association, metformin also makes muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin, so glucose can be more efficiently used for energy.

The relationship between glucose and insulin is tricky to grasp, so here’s a quick explainer: Insulin helps move glucose from the blood into the cells, where it can be used as energy. So as glucose rises after you eat or drink something with carbohydrates (sugar) in it, so do insulin levels.

The addition of metformin helps these processes work better in your body, improving blood glucose levels and insulin control and reducing the risk of hyperglycemia.

While metformin is a good tool in diabetes treatment, that’s not all it can do for your body. We found evidence for seven other potential metformin health benefits.

1. May Lead to Weight Loss and Reduced Body Fat

Metformin is considered gently weight negative, meaning it isn’t related to drastic weight gain or weight loss. However, studies show it can result in modest weight loss, particularly in people with diabetes.

In one systematic review and meta-analysis involving 34 trials with 8,461 participants and 16 intervention arms, researchers found that metformin could significantly reduce body mass index (BMI) and weight among many different groups of people — including those without diabetes. 

Another small study on people without diabetes who were overweight or had obesity found that those taking metformin lost between 5.6 and 6.5 percent of their body weight. In contrast, the control group gained 0.8 to 3.7 percent.

There’s some evidence that metformin can help support the loss of body fat as well. While the mechanism isn’t totally understood, research suggests that metformin affects the storage and use of fat by influencing digestive health and circadian rhythm (your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle). 

Still, most metformin studies are conducted on people living with diabetes, meaning there’s not much research on the efficacy of metformin for weight loss in individuals without diabetes.

2. Alleviates Hunger

Metformin improves how well your cells respond to insulin. This helps regulate your blood sugar levels and manage spikes in insulin that can trigger hunger and food cravings. 

It also influences the production of certain hormones involved in regulating appetite. One of these hormones is ghrelin, also known as the "hunger hormone." By decreasing ghrelin levels — or prolonging its drop after eating — metformin can reduce the sensation of hunger. 

Additionally, metformin slows down the emptying of the stomach’s contents when you eat. This helps you feel fuller for longer after eating. 

All of this combined helps you eat less overall, supporting weight management efforts.

3. Reduces the Risk of Cardiovascular Events

Metformin also may have some benefits for your heart, possibly helping to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

That said, research findings on metformin and heart health are mixed. Still, some results so far are promising.

In one study, type 2 diabetes patients showed a “significant reduction” in a cardiovascular composite when treated with metformin compared to those treated with sulfonylurea, another popular diabetes medication, after five years. Researchers think the most pronounced effects of metformin on heart health occur after continuous use for five or more years.

Another meta-analysis of 33 studies involving 61,704 patients found that compared with non-metformin control groups, metformin usage among people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions is associated with a reduction in death from all causes and from cardiovascular disease, as well as fewer heart-related surgeries and cases of heart failure.

Of course, metformin on its own isn’t a cure-all for your heart health (nor is anything else). Even with these potential metformin benefits, it is still important to prioritize a healthy diet and exercise routine for overall well-being and heart disease prevention. 

4. May Extend Your Lifespan

No, taking metformin isn’t a fountain of youth, but some studies suggest that the diabetes drug may indirectly support longevity (i.e., how long you live). 

How? Well, the drug appears to mimic the effects of calorie restriction, a well-known method for extending lifespan, by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is an enzyme involved in maintaining energy balance in your cells. Its activation also leads to better insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation. 

Metformin has also been shown to reduce the incidence of age-related diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer, which otherwise pose the risk of a shortened lifespan. 

This may be because it has antioxidant effects — or the ability to protect your cells from oxidative stress and damage that can contribute to disease. Age-related diseases can promote insulin resistance, which is an underlying cause of a number of medical conditions. Plus, resistance to insulin-induced cell stress decreases with age.

While more studies are needed to confirm these anti-aging benefits in humans, the current evidence suggests metformin may have an indirect influence on healthy aging.

5. May Offer Anti-Tumor Effects

One of the most intriguing benefits of metformin is that it may have anti-tumor effects in certain tumor-related cancers, including ovarian, breast, colon, prostate, and colorectal.

One analysis found that metformin “reduced cancer incidence and mortality in patients with diabetes, with overall cancer incidence reduced by 31 percent, and cancer mortality reduced by 34 percent.”

One theory is that metformin has anti-tumor side effects because it lowers insulin levels and keeps tumor cells from multiplying. Still, more research is needed. 

6. Can Help Prevent PCOS and Manage Anovulatory Infertility

According to one study, having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) puts you at a “markedly high risk for developing diabetes.” 

Indeed, many women with PCOS are insulin-resistant, meaning they produce more insulin than they need to because their cells don’t respond properly. This means the pancreas continues to pump out more insulin to address high blood sugar levels. 

The increased circulating levels of insulin in PCOS have direct effects on the ovaries, including excess testosterone production and anovulation (a condition where ovulation doesn’t happen, leading to infertility).

In fact, metformin is effective as a treatment for infertility among women with PCOS who don’t ovulate regularly. A study on 702 women found that the clinical pregnancy rate for those using metformin versus a placebo group was significantly increased.

7. Helps Manage Gestational Diabetes

Metformin may be prescribed as an alternative to insulin in some cases of gestational diabetes. 

When the body can’t make enough insulin during pregnancy, gestational diabetes may occur. The condition typically resolves after birth. And while it can — and does — happen to anyone, being overweight and having obesity are linked to gestational diabetes.

If left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause high blood sugar levels in the fetus. It can result in a large baby, as excess sugar that the fetus doesn’t need for energy is stored as fat. Further, babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes often have hypoglycemia.

One study among 96 patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the last three years found that, compared to insulin therapy, metformin had superior effects on blood sugar levels, inflammation, hormone levels, and maternal and infant outcomes.

What are the primary benefits of using metformin for weight loss?

Metformin can help with weight loss by reducing appetite and improving insulin sensitivity, which can help your body store less excess fat. The medication may have especially beneficial effects for people with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, as it helps regulate blood sugar.

What is metformin for? 

Metformin is a medication primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes by reducing glucose production in the liver and improving insulin sensitivity. It is also sometimes prescribed for weight management and PCOS.

How does metformin improve insulin sensitivity?

Metformin works by decreasing the amount of glucose produced by your liver and increasing how well your cells respond to insulin. This helps cells use glucose more effectively, reducing blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.

Are there any heart health benefits associated with metformin?

Yes, metformin treatment has been shown to lower risk of heart-related events in people with type 2 diabetes by improving blood fat levels, reducing inflammation, and lowering blood pressure.

Is metformin right for you? Maybe. While it’s not a miracle drug, evidence does suggest that there are a number of metformin health benefits:

• Metformin is only FDA-approved for diabetes care. It’s a go-to treatment for type 2 diabetes because of how effective it is for supporting normal blood sugar and insulin regulation. 

• It’s also prescribed off-label for weight loss. While it’s not FDA-approved for this use, many healthcare professionals prescribe metformin as an effective weight loss drug when appropriate. 

• Talk to your healthcare provider. If you’re interested in discussing whether metformin is right for you, ask your provider. They can help determine if metformin is a good option for your needs and goals. 

You can learn even more about metformin as well as other weight loss treatments through Hers.

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