Metformin & it's effect on muscle growth

[db270]

There are a few studies that taking metformin reduces the benefits of exercise in older people - i.e. metformin & exercise don't supplement each other but counteract each other. Muscles don't grow as fast for people taking metformin. Many of these studies were done in older adults (65+)

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

www.uab.edu

I have exercised (including resistance training) lot more than my older schedule in the last couple of years, but I haven't seen much muscle increase.

I am thinking about talking to my doctor about stopping/lowering metformin. Has anyone stopped Metformin - how much difference did you have in blood sugars after stopping? Did you have a weight increase?

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

There are a few studies that taking metformin reduces the benefits of exercise in older people - i.e. metformin & exercise don't supplement each other but counteract each other. Muscles don't grow as fast for people taking metformin. Many of these studies were done in older adults (65+)

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

www.uab.edu

I have exercised (including resistance training) lot more than my older schedule in the last couple of years, but I haven't seen much muscle increase.

I am thinking about talking to my doctor about stopping/lowering metformin. Has anyone stopped Metformin - how much difference did you have in blood sugars after stopping? Did you have a weight increase?

regarding stopping metformin, I almost have due to its terrible side effect on me planning trips any where around toilets. I cut down from 4 to 2 then after a bit longer 1 in morning.
I asked to use insulin rather than metformin which has had a far better effect regarding sugar. do exercise very regular. walking. hill and valley walks at weekends, and other forms. Re muscle mss I cannot say or notice any difference really

 

[KennyA]

There are a few studies that taking metformin reduces the benefits of exercise in older people - i.e. metformin & exercise don't supplement each other but counteract each other. Muscles don't grow as fast for people taking metformin. Many of these studies were done in older adults (65+)

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

www.uab.edu

I have exercised (including resistance training) lot more than my older schedule in the last couple of years, but I haven't seen much muscle increase.

I am thinking about talking to my doctor about stopping/lowering metformin. Has anyone stopped Metformin - how much difference did you have in blood sugars after stopping? Did you have a weight increase?

Have never taken metformin, so you might use my experience as a control (n=1). I've found no difficulty recently in building and maintaining muscle (I'm 68) although it's maybe a little slower than say thirty years ago. However I'm probably doing less exercise now than I was then.

There seems to be a general acceptance that the ability to acquire muscle fades with age: I'm never sure though whether the abilty to do the level of strenuous exercise is what really fades.

 

[Melgar]

There are a few studies that taking metformin reduces the benefits of exercise in older people - i.e. metformin & exercise don't supplement each other but counteract each other. Muscles don't grow as fast for people taking metformin. Many of these studies were done in older adults (65+)

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

Study shoots down hopes that metformin might help strength training seniors build more muscle

www.uab.edu

I have exercised (including resistance training) lot more than my older schedule in the last couple of years, but I haven't seen much muscle increase.

I am thinking about talking to my doctor about stopping/lowering metformin. Has anyone stopped Metformin - how much difference did you have in blood sugars after stopping? Did you have a weight increase?

I just looked through a number of research papers on metformin and muscle gain/loss. It seems the research has mixed results, with the usual statement that more research needs to be done in this area .

Sarcopenia is a thing for the over 65’s . I’m a couple of months off turning 65, so it interests me. I don’t know how you feel about supplements, but my Dr recommended a Creatine supplement, for muscle gain and to help with brain fog. I take 5 mgs daily. I have found it helpful. It is a health supplement so if you are interested speak to your Dr about it.

 

[Resurgam]

I took Metformin and Atorvastatin for only a few weeks, but suffered pretty dire side effects - I could no longer pick up the knitting machines I service, so had to give up the work for a year, in 2017. By 2018 I had recovered enough to go back to work.

 

[lovinglife]

I’ve taken Metformin for many more years than I’ve been diabetic for another condition & I've not had any problems other than age related. My joints are more a problem than my muscles, all those I can put down to injury

 

[db270]

It seems the research has mixed results

It's mixed but not in the general sense

There are studies which show that metformin prevents/reduces muscle atrophy & muscle loss
There are studies which show that it prevents/reduces muscle growth

i.e. the studies don't contradict each other

The mechanism for both is same - Metformin activates AMPK which shifts cells to preservation. So you don't lose muscles but at the same time, it doesn't grow either

Apparently Berberine also does the exact same thing

 

[db270]

I’ve taken Metformin for many more years than I’ve been diabetic for another condition & I've not had any problems other than age related.

Did you try to grow your muscles in this time - through strength training & resistance exercises?

 

[lovinglife]

Did you try to grow your muscles in this time - through strength training & resistance exercises?

In a word nope lol, I hate exercise, apart from walking & swimming, but home circumstances also mean I don’t get the time or the availability to get outside the home much. I’m a full time carer to my son.