A common diabetes medication, metformin, may be counteracting the positive effects of exercise, according to recent research. For decades, metformin and physical activity have been prescribed together for type 2 diabetes patients, with the assumption that their combined effect would be greater than the sum of their parts. However, new findings suggest this synergy may not be as effective as previously believed, raising questions about optimal treatment strategies.
Key Takeaways
- Metformin may blunt the improvements in blood vessel function typically seen with exercise.
- The drug appears to diminish gains in aerobic fitness and reduce positive effects on inflammation and fasting glucose.
- Patients taking metformin did not experience the same fitness improvements as those on a placebo.
- Researchers are calling for further studies to find ways to preserve the benefits of both metformin and exercise.
The Study’s Findings
A study involving 72 adults at risk of metabolic syndrome investigated the combined effects of metformin and exercise. Participants were divided into groups performing high- or low-intensity exercise, with or without metformin. Over four months, researchers monitored changes in blood vessel function under insulin stimulation.
The results indicated that while exercise alone improved vascular insulin sensitivity, allowing for better blood flow to muscles, these improvements were reduced when metformin was administered. The drug also appeared to lessen gains in aerobic fitness and positive impacts on inflammation and fasting glucose levels.
Potential Mechanisms and Implications
Researchers suspect that metformin’s mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting certain cellular processes to lower blood sugar, might also interfere with the body’s adaptive responses to exercise. This could mean that the very pathways that make metformin effective may also block the full benefits of physical training.
Steven Malin, a kinesiologist at Rutgers University and lead author of the study, noted that “People taking metformin also didn’t gain fitness. That means their physical function isn’t getting better and that could have long-term health risk.” This lack of fitness improvement could impact daily activities and overall quality of life.
Future Directions
The findings do not suggest that individuals should stop taking metformin or exercising. Instead, they highlight an urgent need for further research to understand how to best combine these two crucial therapies. Scientists aim to develop guidelines that ensure patients can receive the full benefits of both medication and physical activity, ultimately improving chronic disease management and overall health outcomes.
Sources
- Scientists warn common diabetes drug may be cancelling out benefits of exercise, The Independent.
- Why your daily walk might not work as well if you’re on metformin, Medical Xpress.
- New study asks sparks urgent debate over doctors’ approach to diabetes treatment, The Independent.
- Scientists warn common diabetes drug may be cancelling out benefits of exercise, Newswav.
- Diabetes drug may block anti-aging effect of exercise, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.