Therapeutic Potential of Metformin in COVID-19: Reasoning for Its Protective Role. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections present with increased disease severity and poor clinical outcomes in diabetic patients compared with their nondiabetic counterparts. Diabetes/hyperglycemia-triggered endothelial dysfunction and hyperactive inflammatory and immune responses are correlated to twofold to threefold higher intensive care hospitalizations and more than twice the mortality among diabetic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. While comorbidities such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension worsen the prognosis of diabetic COVID-19 patients, COVID-19 infections are also associated with new-onset diabetes, severe metabolic complications, and increased thrombotic events in the backdrop of aberrant endothelial function. While several antidiabetic medications are used to manage blood glucose levels, we discuss the multifaceted ability of metformin to control blood glucose levels and possibly attenuate endothelial dysfunction, inhibit viral entry and infection, and modify inflammatory and immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 infections. These actions make metformin a viable candidate drug to be considered for repurposing and gaining ground against the SARS-CoV-2-induced tsunami in diabetic COVID-19 patients.

publication date

  • March 14, 2021

Research

keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Metformin

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC7955932

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85103331812

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.tim.2021.03.004

PubMed ID

  • 33785249

Additional Document Info