Posted on 09/17/2025 8:44:36 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
The widely used diabetes drug metformin changes blood metal levels in humans. The study is an important step in understanding the drug's many actions and designing better ones in the future.
Metformin is the most widely prescribed diabetes drug in the world. Apart from lowering blood sugar levels, it is also known to have a broad range of beneficial side effects such as against tumors, inflammation and atherosclerosis. However, although it has been used for more than 60 years now, its mechanism of action is still not clear, hampering the development of even better drugs against these conditions.
Ogawa Wataru says, "It is known that diabetes patients experience changes in the blood levels of metals such as copper, iron and zinc.
"In addition, chemical studies found that metformin has the ability to bind certain metals, such as copper, and recent studies showed that it is this binding ability that might be responsible for some of the drug's beneficial effects. So, we wanted to know whether metformin actually affects blood metal levels in humans, which had not been clarified."
To do so, Ogawa and his team enlisted about 200 diabetes patients, half of whom took metformin and half of whom did not, in a study to analyze their blood serum levels for those metals and various metal deficiency indicators.
The team has published the first clinical evidence of altered blood metal levels in patients taking metformin. They showed that drug-taking patients have significantly lower copper and iron levels and heightened zinc levels.
Ogawa says, "It is significant that we could show this in humans. Furthermore, since decreases in copper and iron concentrations and an increase in zinc concentration are all considered to be associated with improved glucose tolerance and prevention of complications, these changes may indeed be related to metformin's action."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
This could be done manually without metformin, which could be helpful in curbing diabetes onset.
Is it good that my blood levels of copper and iron are decreased and my zinc blood level is increased?
It is for diabetics, and would seem safe to assume for pre-diabetics, as well.
Before deciding on taking Metformin, please consider reading a book by Jason Fung, or watch a video by Dr. Sarah Halberg.
Article says nothing about if its beneficial, it just says it happens. Next step I guess.
Tech bros and some doctors believe in taking Metformin for longevity.
It is for diabetics, and would seem safe to assume for pre-diabetics, as well.
I have not heard that. Why is that? Do you have any links supporting that?
More tan that, having watched this Type 2 diabetes | Sarah Hallberg | TEDxPurdueUclick here video, it would be a sin if I didn't provide a link to it. I have been watching my carbs for about 3 months now, and the results from my blood tests show that my prediabetic state tested in March has been reversed such that my A1C number changed down from 5.8 (prediabetic) back to 5.5 (high normal) in the August test.
Now from the Hallberg video I know why. Someone here on FR took the time to coach me. But please DO NOT ask me who. Listening and fully following Hallberg's advice should be enough. But check with your own primary medical provider for assurance that is OK for you. Skip the distracting SPAM blurbs that occasionally pop up.
“Furthermore, since decreases in copper and iron concentrations and an increase in zinc concentration are all considered to be associated with improved glucose tolerance and prevention of complications, these changes may indeed be related to metformin’s action.”
Type 2 diabetics have higher copper and iron and less zinc than the normal population. If you are progressing toward Type 2 diabetes, you are already showing sings of this change because you are having worse glucose tolerance—that is a hallmark of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
Yes, I take it forPre- Diabetes
Thx.
I’ve been on Metformin (1000 x 2 daily) for several years now. Was on another med but successfully got off of that one. 10 years ago, I was hovering around 5.6-5.9 on my A1C. Slowly crept up to 6.3-6.5. Finally, last year hit 7.4, now down to 7.2.
So, the Metformin is good for me according to the article.
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