Study finds metformin reduces COVID-19 viral load, viral rebound

Medical Xpress / University of Minnesota Medical School / Clinical Infectious Diseases ^ | May 2, 2024 | Alex Smith / Carolyn T Bramante et al

[ConservativeMind]

Researchers found that metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes, can decrease the amount of COVID-19 virus in the body and lower the chances of the virus coming back strongly after initial treatment.

A higher viral load—the amount of virus in a person's body—usually indicates a greater concentration of the virus, which can be important in understanding the severity of infection and monitoring the effectiveness of treatments.

"The results of the study are important because COVID-19 continues to cause illness, both during acute infection and for months after infection," said Carolyn Bramante, MD.

In this phase 3 randomized clinical trial, the researchers tested metformin against a placebo in 1,323 adults infected with COVID-19. The group treated with metformin had a viral load that was about four times lower than the placebo at day 10. The metformin group also had less viral rebound than the placebo group.

The research team concludes that metformin treatment for adults recently infected with COVID-19 is an effective way to reduce the amount of the virus in the nose and to keep the amount of the virus from becoming elevated again.

"Among the volunteers in this randomized trial, there was a more than 41% reduction of long COVID among those receiving metformin and a 58% reduction in hospitalization by 28 days. This new study explains why this occurred. Metformin reduced the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus present, which likely accounts for why this $1 medication reduced hospitalizations and long COVID," said David Boulware, MD, MPH.

None of the outpatient treatments in current guidelines have been tested in adults who had prior infection. Further research is needed to understand how metformin works in those who had the virus before.

A computer simulator accurately predicted metformin's effectiveness against COVID-19—helping steer the direction of the clinical trial.

[ConservativeMind]

Metformin could be a consideration for you and your doctor, should yu have COVID issues.

[ConservativeMind]

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[exDemMom]

I am extremely curious as to what the mechanism of action is. The article did not say.

[curious7]

Makes you wonder if Berberine, affecting the same metabolic pathways as Metformin, would also reduce viral load.

[Delta 21]

Carpetbagger~ According to Metphormin, Metphormin works wonders on just about anything.

Josey Wales~ How is it on stains? {spit}

[ryderann]

Bet it’s more expensive than Invermectin and quinine.

[scrabblehack]

I think you have to have high resistance to take Metformin in the first place. I tried it — it did not agree with me.

[jimwatx]

Metformin lowers glucose.
COVID-19 May Trigger Hyperglycemia and Worsen Disease by Harming Fat Cells
https://news.weill.cornell.edu/news/2021/10/covid-19-may-trigger-hyperglycemia-and-worsen-disease-by-harming-fat-cells

Association of COVID-19 with diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-24185-7

[jimwatx]

Metformin is a cheap generic. Or just use the herb berberine instead it does basically the same thing.

Glucose-lowering effect of berberine on type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9709280/

[Ranxerox]

Carpetbagger~ According to Metphormin, Metphormin works wonders on just about anything.

Josey Wales~ How is it on stains? {spit}

Better than Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine!

[CrimsonTidegirl]

I haven’t had Covid, but I’m prescribed Metformin for diabetes, so I guess I’m good to go.

A couple of weeks ago, I was briefly hospitalized because I was vomiting extremely violently and continuously. I also had diarrhea. The strange thing is my illness hit me so suddenly. One minute I was watching television then the next minute I was losing consciousness from vomiting so much.

I was diagnosed with UTI and Stomach Flu, but I believe the shrimp I had for dinner may have been part of the problem. While hospitalized, they gave me potassium via IV, even though I take prescribed potassium pills daily.

Covid can’t be as miserable as what I experienced.

[Flaming Conservative]

It’s dirt cheap.

[mewzilla]

So diabetics using metformin aren’t at high risk from CoupFlu after all...?

[mewzilla]

BTW, metformin’s antiviral properties are old news...

[exDemMom]

Well, I have read that Covid-19 is about eight times more deadly for diabetics than for other people.

So, it makes sense that a diabetes drug would help diabetics to survive Covid. Metformin doesn’t actually have antiviral effects. But by controlling the diabetes that predisposes people to die, it helps indirectly.

Thanks.