A recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota highlights the potential of metformin, a commonly used diabetes drug, in preventing long COVID. The research revealed that participants who took metformin were over 40% less likely to develop long COVID, with an impressive 63% reduction in risk when the drug was initiated within four days of symptom onset. The study involved a diverse group of over 1,200 overweight or obese individuals between the ages of 30 and 85.
Published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the study titled COVID-OUT aimed to investigate whether early outpatient treatment with metformin, along with ivermectin or fluvoxamine, could effectively prevent long COVID. Long COVID refers to the chronic illness that can affect up to 10% of individuals who have previously had COVID-19.
Dr. Carolyn Bramante, the principal investigator and an assistant professor at the U of M Medical School, emphasized the significance of the study’s findings due to the substantial impact long COVID can have on people’s lives. Dr. Bramante stated that metformin is an affordable, safe, and easily accessible drug, and its use as a preventive measure could have significant implications for public health.
The study employed a large-scale, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial involving volunteers from across the United States. The key findings were as follows:
- Participants who received metformin were more than 40% less likely to develop long COVID compared to those who received a visually identical placebo.
- When metformin was initiated within four days of COVID symptoms, the risk of long COVID decreased by 63%.
- The preventive effect of metformin remained consistent across various demographic groups and different viral variants, including the Omicron variant.
- In contrast, ivermectin and fluvoxamine did not demonstrate efficacy in preventing long COVID.
The study encompassed over 1,200 randomly selected participants who were assigned to receive either metformin or a placebo, with an additional subset receiving ivermectin, fluvoxamine, or their respective placebos. Participants were individuals aged between 30 and 85, classified as overweight or obese. Over a period of up to 10 months following their initial COVID-19 diagnosis, more than 1,100 participants reported on their symptoms.
Dr. Bramante, who is also an internist and pediatrician with M Health Fairview, described the study’s long-term outcome as high-quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of metformin in preventing harm caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. She further suggested that future research could explore the drug’s effectiveness in individuals with prior COVID-19 infection or in adults with a lower body mass index.
Interestingly, the efficacy of metformin in combatting the virus was predicted by a simulator developed by the U of M Medical School and College of Science and Engineering Biomedical Engineering faculty. This model has exhibited remarkable accuracy, successfully predicting outcomes such as the failure of hydroxychloroquine and the success of remdesivir prior to the announcement of clinical trial results for these therapies.
The study was led by the University of Minnesota Medical School, School of Public Health, College of Science and Engineering, and M Health Fairview. Additionally, it involved collaboration from Northwestern University, University of Colorado Denver, Olive View – UCLA Education & Research Institute in Los Angeles, Optum Health, and scientific partners from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University, and Emory University School of Medicine.
Funding for the research was provided by the Parsemus Foundation, Rainwater Charitable Foundation, Fast Grants, and the United Health Foundation. The National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences also supported the study under award numbers UL1TR002494, KL2TR002492, and UM1TR004406.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about metformin, long COVID prevention
What is the focus of the University of Minnesota study?
The University of Minnesota study focuses on the potential of metformin, a diabetes drug, in preventing long COVID.
What were the findings of the study?
The study found that participants taking metformin were over 40% less likely to develop long COVID. When metformin was started within four days of symptom onset, the risk of long COVID was reduced by 63%. However, ivermectin and fluvoxamine did not show efficacy in preventing long COVID.
How many participants were involved in the study?
The study involved over 1,200 overweight or obese participants aged 30-85 who were randomly assigned to receive either metformin or a placebo.
What are the public health implications of the study?
The study suggests that using metformin as a preventive measure for long COVID could have significant public health implications. Metformin is an inexpensive, safe, and widely available drug.
Did the study consider different demographic populations and viral variants?
Yes, the study found that the preventive effect of metformin was consistent across different demographic populations of participants and various viral variants, including the Omicron variant.
What funding supported the study?
The study received funding from the Parsemus Foundation, Rainwater Charitable Foundation, Fast Grants, the United Health Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
More about metformin, long COVID prevention
- University of Minnesota Study: Link to the University of Minnesota study
- The Lancet Infectious Diseases Publication: Link to the publication in The Lancet Infectious Diseases
- COVID-OUT Study: Link to the COVID-OUT study
- Metformin: Link to information about metformin
- Long COVID: Link to information about long COVID
