Metformin as the first line antidiabetic agent

Czech version

Authors: Š. Svačina
Authors‘ workplace: III. interní klinika 1. lékařské fakulty UK a VFN Praha, přednosta prof. MU Dr. Štěpán Svačina, DrSc., MBA
Published in: Vnitř Lék 2010; 56(12): 1225-1227
Category: Reviews

Metformin je dnes považován za jediný lék u pacientů s prediabetem a je lékem první volby u diabetiků 2. typu. Kromě významného antidiabetického efektu jsou významné i další účinky metforminu: snížení výskytu nádorů, kardiovaskulární pozitivní efekty, stimulace imunity, pozitivní efekt na kost, efekt na ovulaci, vliv na redukci hmotnosti, pankreatoprotektivní vliv (snížení výskytu karcinomu a možný vliv na snížení výskytu pankreatitidy při inkretinové léčbě), pozitivní vliv na jaterní steatózu. Protože diabetici žijí ve zvýšeném kardiovaskulárním riziku, je významné stále připomínat pozitivní kardiovaskulární efekty metforminu.

Overview

Metformin is considered to be the only drug suitable in patients with prediabetes and is the drug of choice in patients with type 2 diabetes. Apart from important antidiabetic effect, it also has some important additional effects: reduced incidence of tumours, positive effects on cardiovascular system, stimulation of immunity, positive effects on the bone, effect on ovulation, influence over body weight reduction, pancreas- protective effects (reduced incidence of carcinoma and possible effect on reduction in incidence of pancreatitis during incretin treatment), positive effects on liver steatosis. Since diabetes patients live with increased cardiovascular risk, it is important to continuously remind ourselves of the positive cardiovascular effects of metformin.

Key words:
metformin – cardiovascular effects – reduced risk of tumours – ovulation – liver steatosis – diabetic osteopathy

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