Friday Hope: Another Study Shows Metformin's Benefits Treating COVID - I Propose Its Endothelial/Sympathetic Benefits May Be Its Most Significant

I believe Metformin may be an incredibly important therapeutic and prophylactic for COVID/Long COVID/SPED

A paper published on November 17, 2021 showed the benefits of Diabetes Medications on the outcomes of their use in adults with type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and COVID. Interestingly, the best performing medication tested was Metformin.

The background provides some interesting insight, especially noteworthy as it was found to be of prophylactic use.

There are in-silico, in-vitro, and in-tissue data suggesting that metformin inhibits the viral life cycle, as well as observational data suggesting that metformin use before infection with SARS-CoV2 is associated with less severe COVID-19.

Diabetes medications and associations with Covid-19 outcomes in the N3C database: A national retrospective cohort study
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271574

The raw data from the study is significant.

In unadjusted frequencies, 14.2% of metformin uses were hospitalized, compared to 16.3% and 15.6% of DPP4i and SU users, respectively; 1.3% of metformin users were ventilated, compared to 2.6% and 2.1% of DPP4i and SU users, respectively; and 1.5% of metformin users died from COVID-19, compared to 2.8% and 3.1% of DPP4i and SU users, respectively.

Diabetes medications and associations with Covid-19 outcomes in the N3C database: A national retrospective cohort study
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271574

Yet, when searching for an explanation, the authors pointed to the following effects of Metformin as the reasons for its success as a treatment for COVID.

However metformin has been found to reduce TNF-alpha, IL-6, and possibly boost IL-10 in females more than males, which is relevant to the pathophysiology of COVID-19.

Diabetes medications and associations with Covid-19 outcomes in the N3C database: A national retrospective cohort study
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271574

While the above is certainly important and evident, I believe the underlying major benefit (especially as prophylaxis) Metformin has for COVID is its ability to improve ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION and reduce SYMPATHETIC NERVE ACTIVITY. As those who read my substack know, I believe the Spike Protein induces an endothelial disease and induces a catecholamine surge. Metformin mediates both.

Patients who received metformin demonstrated significantly improved endothelium dependent vasodilatation compared to placebo. The improvement in endothelial function was associated with an improvement in insulin resistance

We conclude that there is preliminary evidence to suggest metformin does attenuate excess sympathetic nerve activity, which may be useful in improving vasodilatation in ED.

Effects of metformin on endothelial health and erectile dysfunction
https://tau.amegroups.com/article/view/14362/html

Please also note Metformin, of course, as a diabetic drug, also improves insulin resistance, another issue in COVID and Long COVID.

More studies are needed. Especially as prophylactic and therapeutic for those suffering from Long COVID/SPED.

I hope all those in the USA had a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks, as always, for your support and blessings to all.