A new study published in Science Advances found that metformin, a commonly used diabetes medication, targets mitochondrial complex I to lower blood glucose levels. Researchers discovered that mice expressing NDI1 globally displayed normal glucose homeostasis, suggesting that the gene plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels.
However, when NDI1 expression was attenuated, metformin’s blood glucose-lowering effect was significantly reduced. This finding highlights the complex relationship between mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity. The study also found that mice fed a high-fat diet exhibited impaired glucose tolerance, further supporting the importance of maintaining healthy mitochondria in regulating blood sugar levels.
The study’s results have significant implications for our understanding of metformin’s mechanism of action and its potential use as a therapeutic agent for managing type 2 diabetes.
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ads5466