People with obesity who took the diabetes drug metformin after a COVID-19 infection reduced their risk of Long COVID by 64%, according to new findings.
A major study looked at data from just over 624,000 people and found that individuals with obesity or overweight significantly reduced their risk of Long Covid if they took the drug within 90 days after getting COVID.
Metformin is a common and inexpensive drug, so it opens up the possibility of another prevention tactic in reducing the longer-term effects of COVID.
- Risk of multiple long-term conditions reduced by plant-based diets
- Weight management programmes found to help treat long COVID
More than 200 symptoms can fall under the umbrella of Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) – Long COVID – including brain fog, persistent tiredness, sleep problems and shortness of breath.
It is defined as lasting at least two months, within three months of a COVID-19 infection. As of March 2023, it is thought that around 2.9% of the UK population – more than 1.9m people – have Long Covid.
Metformin, which is used in type 2 diabetes, lowers blood sugar levels. It has also shown to have significant anti-inflammatory properties and plays a part in a cell process which may hinder viral replication.
The findings of the study may not apply to people of normal weight.
- Study seeks Long COVID sufferers to enhance rehabilitation with AI
- Skin cancer risk lowered by metformin
The study authors concluded: “Our findings support the protective effect of metformin treatment within 90 days of SARS-COV-2 infection on developing post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) in overweight/obesity patients in real-world settings.
“These findings emphasise the role of using metformin in early COVID-19 treatment plans for overweight/obesity individuals to help lower the risk of developing PCC.
“Further randomised controlled trials are needed to confirm the causal relationship between metformin use and its efficacy in treating PCC in overweight/obesity individuals.”
Read more in Clinical Infectious Diseases
