The Influence of Metformin on IGF-1 Levels in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Open accessAbstract
Background A meta-analysis is needed to comprehensively consolidate findings from the influence of metformin on IGF-1 levels. The present study was conducted with the objective to accurately evaluate the influence of metformin intake on IGF-1 levels via a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Methods A comprehensive systematic search was carried out in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS and Embase from inception until June 2019. Weighted mean difference (WMD) with the 95 % CI were applied for estimating the effects of metformin on serum IGF-1 levels.Results 11 studies involving a total of 569 individuals reported changes in IGF-1 plasma concentrations as an outcome measure. Pooled results demonstrated an overall non-significant decline in IGF-1 following metformin intake (WMD: -8.292 ng/ml, 95 % CI: -20.248, 3.664, p = 0.174) with heterogeneity among (p = 0.000,I 2 = 87.1 %). The subgroup analyses displayed that intervention duration <12 weeks on children (WMD:-55.402 ng/ml, 95 % CI: -79.845, -30.960, I2 = 0.0 %) significantly reduced IGF-1. Moreover, in age 18 < years older metformin intake (WMD: 15.125 ng/ml, 95 % CI: 5.522, 24.729, I2 = 92.5 %) significantly increased IGF-1 than 18 ≤ years older (WMD:-1.038 ng/ml, 95 % CI: -3.578,1.502,I 2 = 78.0 %). Following dose-response evaluation, metformin intake reduced IGF-1 (coefficient for dose-response analysis= -13.14, P = 0.041 and coefficient for liner analysis= -0.066, P = 0.038) significantly based on treatment duration.Conclusion We found in children, intervention duration <12 weeks yielded significant reductions in IGF-1, whilst paradoxically, in participants >18 years old, metformin intake significantly increased IGF-1. We suggest that caution be taken when interpreting the findings of this review, particularly given the discordant supplementation practices between children and adults.
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Metformin via its insulin sensitizing actions reduces insulin and thereby should also normalize IGF-1 levels.
“Metformin via its insulin sensitizing actions reduces insulin and thereby should also normalize IGF-1 levels (55, 56).”
From A Critical Review of the Evidence That Metformin Is a Putative Anti-Aging Drug That Enhances Healthspan and Extends Lifespan (2021) · cites this paper as [56]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Yang, X., Kord-Varkaneh, H., Talaei, S., Clark, C. C. T., Zanghelini, F., Tan, S. C., Zarezadeh, M., Mousavi, S. M., Rahmani, J., & Zhang, Y.
- Affiliations
- Zhumadian Central Hospital (CN)
- Shahid Beheshti University (IR)
- Coventry University (GB)
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (BR)
- National University of Malaysia (MY)
- Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Tehran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- Chongqing Medical University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Zhang, Yong
- ORCID
- Venue
- Pharmacological Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-01
- Volume
- 151
- Pages
- 104588
- ISSN
- 1043-6618 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2992455868
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6
- FWCI
- 0.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Pharmacological Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure (Coventry University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
- Keywords
- metformin, insulin-like growth factor I, dose-response relationship, treatment duration, children versus adults, serum biomarkers, type 2 diabetes
- MeSH terms
- Child, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, Metformin, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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