Popular drug metformin transforms your gut into a sugar sink
Researchers are finally learning the mechanism behind one of the most prescribed medicines in the U.S., primarily used to treat or prevent type 2 diabetes
Metformin, a widely prescribed medication for treating or preventing type 2 diabetes, has revealed a surprising effect on the human gut. Researchers have discovered that this drug essentially turns a person's gut cells into a sugar sink, leading to reduced glucose levels in the body. Although metformin was initially believed to work by decreasing the liver's glucose production, recent studies have uncovered its potential to transform gut cells into efficient sugar absorbers.
The discovery emerged from researchers examining two aspects of metformin's action: its ability to increase glucose absorption in the intestines and its capacity to block mitochondria's oxygen usage. By combining the effects of these two mechanisms, metformin prompts gut cells to switch to a different metabolic pathway that utilizes more sugar to produce energy.
This finding, published in Nature Metabolism, challenges the conventional understanding of metformin's role in anti-aging and longevity, as it may be inhibiting mitochondria in a reversible and transient manner.
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