{"id":12769,"date":"2024-12-20T21:03:51","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T21:03:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=12769"},"modified":"2024-12-20T21:03:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T21:03:52","slug":"study-reveals-how-metformin-lowers-blood-sugar-and-fights-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/study-reveals-how-metformin-lowers-blood-sugar-and-fights-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Reveals How Metformin Lowers Blood Sugar and Fights Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Scientists at Northwestern University have uncovered how metformin, a common diabetes medication, lowers blood sugar levels by targeting the cell&#8217;s mitochondria. This breakthrough provides new insights into the drug\u2019s potential for treating various diseases.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A new study from Northwestern Medicine has uncovered the mechanism behind metformin, a leading Type 2 diabetes medication known for its wide range of health benefits. The study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.ads5466\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the journal Science Advances, reveals how metformin interferes with mitochondria, the cell&#8217;s &#8220;powerhouse,&#8221; to effectively lower blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For over 60 years, metformin has been a staple in diabetes treatment, praised not only for its efficacy in managing blood sugar but also for slowing cancer growth, improving COVID-19 outcomes and reducing inflammation. Yet, until now, researchers struggled to pinpoint how exactly the drug functions on a cellular level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis research gives us a clearer understanding of how metformin works,\u201d corresponding author Navdeep Chandel, a professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.northwestern.edu\/stories\/2024\/12\/what-is-metformins-secret-sauce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study, led by first author Colleen Reczek, a research assistant professor of medicine at Feinberg, demonstrated that metformin blocks a specific component known as mitochondrial complex I. This inhibition reduces the cell&#8217;s energy supply, affecting glucose levels without causing significant harm to healthy cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis research significantly advances our understanding of metformin\u2019s mechanism of action,\u201d Chandel added.\u00a0\u201cWhile millions of people take metformin, understanding its exact mechanism has been a mystery. This study helps explain that metformin lowers blood sugar by interfering with mitochondria in cells.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Historically, metformin theories have spanned across different research fields, often resulting in fragmented and indirect evidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chandel added that, \u201cEvery year there&#8217;s a new mechanism, a new target of metformin and the next few years people debate those and don&#8217;t come to a consensus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers utilized genetically engineered mice expressing a yeast enzyme, NDI1, that simulates mitochondrial complex I but is resistant to metformin\u2019s effects. Comparison of blood glucose levels in these mice provided direct evidence of metformin\u2019s role in inhibiting mitochondrial complex I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe NDI1-expressing mice were not completely resistant to its glucose-lowering effects, suggesting metformin may also target other pathways to some extent, but more research is needed,\u201d added Chandel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study expands on <a href=\"https:\/\/news.feinberg.northwestern.edu\/2014\/07\/24\/navdeep_chandel_metformin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">previous research<\/a> by Chandel and his collaborators. Prior studies indicated that metformin\u2019s anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties could be tied to its interference with mitochondrial complex I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe think that the diverse effects metformin has on lowering glucose levels, decreasing inflammation and its potential anti-cancer effects could, in part, be explained by inhibiting mitochondrial complex I,\u201d Chandel concluded. \u201cEventually, others will have to corroborate our idea of mitochondrial complex I inhibition as a unifying mechanism to explain how metformin could improve healthspan in humans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The implications of this study could be vast, potentially enhancing metformin\u2019s application beyond diabetes treatment and offering new avenues for combating various diseases. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new study from Northwestern Medicine has uncovered the mechanism behind metformin, a leading Type 2 diabetes medication known for its wide range of health benefits. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, reveals how metformin interferes with mitochondria, the cell&#8217;s &#8220;powerhouse,&#8221; to effectively lower blood sugar levels. For over 60 years, metformin has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A new study from Northwestern Medicine has uncovered the mechanism behind metformin, a leading Type 2 diabetes medication known for its wide range of health benefits. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, reveals how metformin interferes with mitochondria, the cell&#8217;s &#8220;powerhouse,&#8221; to effectively lower blood sugar levels. For over 60 years, metformin has&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12769"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12912,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12769\/revisions\/12912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}