Does metformin help cholesterol?

Have you been popping metformin like candy and wondering if it’s doing anything for your cholesterol? Well, look no further my dear friend. We are here to spill all the tea on whether or not metformin actually helps lower cholesterol levels.

What is Metformin?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details of metformin’s effect on cholesterol levels, let’s take a quick moment to remind ourselves what exactly this drug is. Metformin is an oral diabetes medication that works by decreasing glucose production in the liver and improving insulin sensitivity. It’s primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes but has also shown promising results in other areas such as cancer prevention, weight loss, and even fertility (a “miracle” drug indeed).

What are Cholesterol Levels?

Cholesterol–the fat-like substance found throughout our body–is necessary for our cells’ structure but can be damaging when there’s an excess present within the bloodstream. This waxy substance comes in two main forms: Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (“bad” cholesterol) which causes buildup in arteries leading to heart disease; High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) (“good”cholesterol) which eliminates LDL from your blood.

Study Results

Studies examining whether or not metformin benefits patients with regards to serum lipid markers have provided conflicting conclusions- some studies suggest that there may be a small beneficial impact while others do not associate any consequence altogether. One study involving 214 diabetic individuals showed decreased triglyceride (TGs) and total cholesterol llevels after being supplemented with 1500mg/day of metfirmin orally fo a period of six months [1]. Another experiment testing Diabetic adults taking either gliclazide plus captopril combination therapy alone versus inclusion of 1000mg metfirmin per day supplement also had decreased cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL levels [2] . On the other hand , certain studies have reported no beneficial outcomes from regular intake of metformin with respect to lipid markers like total cholesterol or HDL.

So.. Does it Help?

Overall, while there is conflicting evidence regarding whether or not Metformin directly impacts lipids such as (TGs) & total Cholesterol level specifically in type 2 diabetic individuals; It’s utility in managing blood sugar levels and insulin resistance may be positively correlated with improving heart disease risk factors including Serum TC,HDL-C,TG,Lp(a)[3],[4].

Let’s Break It Down

Here are some bullet points for a clearer understanding at a glance:

  • Regular ingestion of Metformin has been associated with lower cardiovascular morbidity rates among diabetics.
  • Studies reveal that supplementation of Metformin might help improve fasting glucose concentrations together with insulin insensitivity .
  • In the Diabetes Prevention Program evaluation, incident cases of diabetes mellitus can be delayed through regular use.
  • A retrospective study involving adults diagnosed wth T2D taking usual care vs simultaneous lipid-lowering drug treatment plus daily dose intake of metfirmin demonstrated an improved ratio(low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein)

Keep in mind though that supplements alone may not sufficiently control your serum lipid concentration.Maintaining healthy dietary habits coupled with lifestyle changes should always go along!

Conclusion

So here you are – our deep dive into answer if Metiformin helps reduce Cholesterol? While some research seems to point towards positive correlation between metformin and improvements in cardiac risk markers down the line; Nonetheless ,more conclsive evidence is needed before any conclusive statement can be made on this matter!

Random Posts