Shillong, October 29: A recent large-scale study has discovered that metformin, a drug typically prescribed for type 2 diabetes, can be effective in preventing or reducing weight gain in young individuals who are taking medication to treat bipolar disorder.
Although metformin is already known for its ability to prevent weight gain, psychiatrists initially expressed reservations about prescribing it to their patients. As per IANS, this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of metformin in these cases.
Medications used to treat bipolar disorder, known as second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), are often effective in improving the mental health of young patients. However, they come with notable side effects, including elevated blood pressure, increased appetite, and weight gain.
The study enrolled 1,565 patients aged 8-19 with bipolar disorder who were taking SGAs. The research was led by experts from the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider.
At the beginning of the study, 33 percent of the youth participants had metabolic syndrome, characterized by obesity, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, and elevated glucose levels.
In the short-term follow-up data, metformin was found to have a modest yet significant effect in preventing and, in some cases, reversing weight gain in the studied patient population. The drug was generally safe, with the only reported side effects being some gastrointestinal distress symptoms.
While metformin was effective in addressing weight gain, its impact on metabolic syndrome in youth was not significant in the short term. It’s worth noting that weight gain can lead to long-term adverse health outcomes.
Christina Klein, a research scientist at UC’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, emphasized the importance of considering the overall health of individuals, both their mental and physical well-being. Further research is needed to explore effective interventions for metabolic syndrome, according to Claudine Higdon from Northwell.