Short-term Metformin Protects Against Glucocorticoid-Induced Toxicity in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are potent anti-inflammatory drugs, but strategies to prevent side effects are lacking. We investigated whether metformin could prevent GC-related toxicity and explored the underlying mechanisms.

Research design and methods

This single-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial compared metformin with placebo during high-dose GC treatment in 18 lean, healthy, male study participants. The trial was conducted at the University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Participants received prednisone 30 mg/day in combination with metformin or placebo for two 7-day periods (1:1 randomization). The primary outcome, change in insulin sensitivity, was assessed using a two-sided paired t test. Before and after each study period,

SUBMITTER: Thierry S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12034906 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature