New paper out of the National University of Singapore and their longevity research group:
This review describes our current understanding of the role of the mitochondria in the repurposing of the anti-diabetes drugs metformin, gliclazide, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors for additional clinical benefits regarding unhealthy aging, long COVID, mental neurogenerative disorders, and obesity. Metformin, the most prominent of these diabetes drugs, has been called the “Drug of Miracles and Wonders,” as clinical trials have found it to be beneficial for human patients suffering from these maladies. To promote viral replication in all infected human cells, SARS-CoV-2 stimulates the infected liver cells to produce glucose and to export it into the blood stream, which can cause diabetes in long COVID patients, and metformin, which reduces the levels of glucose in the blood, was shown to cut the incidence rate of long COVID in half for all patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2. Metformin leads to the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase AMPK, which accelerates the import of glucose into cells via the glucose transporter GLUT4 and switches the cells to the starvation mode, counteracting the virus. Diabetes drugs also stimulate the unfolded protein response and thus mitophagy, which is beneficial for healthy aging and mental health. Diabetes drugs were also found to mimic exercise and help to reduce body weight.
Open access paper:
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Our results indicate a reduced risk of non-melanoma skin cancer following exposure to metformin in individuals diagnosed with both SCC or BCC (Tables 2 and 3). This study strengthens the evidence supporting metformin’s potential as a protective agent against non-melanoma skin cancer, especially after adjusting for medications associated with increased risk of skin cancer.
Metformin holds promise as a potential chemopreventive agent for skin cancer, with various proposed biological mechanisms supporting this role. These mechanisms encompass a spectrum of anti-cancer actions.8-12 Firstly, metformin activates AMPactivated protein kinase (AMPK), which acts as a cellular energy sensor, regulating metabolic processes and impeding cancer cell growth by restricting their access to essential energy and nutrients.
Full paper: https://jddonline.com/articles/metformin-use-risk-of-non-melanoma-skin-cancer-propensity-matched-case-control-study-S1545961624P8249X/?_page=4&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1s5Z6kM4ivjpyma5uts-dc9oDP1ejKeJUT1ujqPJtNfJkyBvZV4JafumU_aem_SOA_oF8Ohs1eySWaCLeXCA
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