Millions of people take metformin, a type 2 diabetes medication that lowers blood sugar, and the “wonder drug” has also shown promise in slowing cancer growth, improving COVID outcomes, and reducing inflammation. However, scientists had been unable to determine how it works until now.
A new study from Northwestern Medicine has provided direct evidence in mice that metformin reversibly cuts the cell’s energy supply by interfering with mitochondria, a specific part of the cell’s energy-making machinery called mitochondrial complex I. This interference allows the drug to target cells contributing to disease progression without harming healthy cells.
The research gives scientists a clearer understanding of how metformin works and significantly advances our knowledge of its mechanism of action. Previous theories were often based on research from distinct fields and provided only indirect evidence, but this study provides direct evidence for mitochondrial complex I inhibition as the key to lowering blood sugar levels.
Metformin has been used for over 60 years and is a first-line treatment for many patients with type 2 diabetes worldwide. To test its effect on glucose reduction, researchers created mice genetically engineered to express a yeast enzyme that mimics mitochondrial complex I but is resistant to metformin inhibition.
The results showed that when these mice took metformin, their blood glucose levels increased, indicating the drug’s effectiveness in lowering glucose levels. However, mice with the expressed yeast enzyme did not experience this effect, suggesting that metformin targets mitochondrial complex I. Further research is needed to confirm the findings and explore other potential pathways.
This study contributes to our understanding of metformin’s impact on health span and may lead to new avenues for treating diseases like cancer and inflammation.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-metformin-secret-sauce-drug-animals.html