Friday Hope: Galega officinalis (Metformin): Preventing/Reversing Leaky Gut and Increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia

Leaky gut can induce and progress Diabetes: Is SARS-CoV-2 perhaps as much a GI infection as respiratory?

Metformin improves glucose metabolism and attenuates endotoxemia. Mice were fed an LFD or HFD for 18 weeks, and then a set of HFD-fed mice were treated with metformin for another 4 weeks. (A) Body weight; (B) Glucose tolerance test (IPGTT); (C) Pyruvate tolerance test (IPPTT); (D) Serum LPS contents; (E) Serum D-xylose contents; (F) Western blot analysis of gut occludin-1 contents; (G) Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of gut lactobacillus. Mean±SEM. n=4–6. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 vs LFD. #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs HFD.

Once again we return to Metformin. This is the third Friday Hope post I have dedicated to this astounding therapeutic. It may be, along with Vitamin D, among the very best and most important therapeutics in treating COVID and Spike Protein pathologies.

Readers who have followed the Friday Hope series may recall the two previous posts in which I discussed Metformin. The first reviewed Metformin’s abilities to improve endothelial function, lower cytokine levels and provide sympathetic nervous system benefits in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Friday Hope: Another Study Shows Metformin's Benefits Treating COVID - I Propose Its Endothelial/Sympathetic Benefits May Be Its Most Significant
https://wmcresearch.substack.com/p/friday-hope-another-study-shows-metformins

The second post discussed how it may protect the microvasculature and prevent secondary fibrosis.

Friday Hope: Metformin Revisited: Anti-Filopodia Propertie
https://wmcresearch.substack.com/p/friday-hope-metformin-revisited-anti

This week we will discuss how Metformin also has the ability to reverse the leaky gut induced by SARS-CoV-2 and its Spike Protein which allows lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to systemically invade the body. Additionally, it beneficially modulates the gut microbiome and enhances insulin signaling. As a side note, the induction of a leaky gut may be a major factor in all of the de novo diabetes cases being reported post COVID infection.

Perhaps one property of Metformin that many not be aware of is that Metformin was not created solely in a lab. It is actually a derivative of a plant: Galega officilanis.

Once used in traditional medicine over centuries, G. officinalis is at the foundation of the biguanide class of antidiabetic drugs, which also included phenformin and buformin (both discontinued).[7][11]

G. officinalis contains the phytochemicals, galegine and guanidine, both of which decrease blood sugar, but were discovered to cause adverse effects in human studies.[7][11] The study of galegine and related molecules in the first half of the 20th century led to development of oral antidiabetic drugs.[7][11] Research on other compounds related to guanidine, including biguanide, led ultimately to the discovery of metformin (trade name, Glucophage), used in the 21st century for management of diabetes by decreasing liver glucose production and increasing insulin sensitivity of body tissues.[7][12]

Galega officinalis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galega_officinalis

To appreciate Metformin’s ability to treat leaky guy, please review my recent post about SARS-CoV-2 and the Spike Protein’s ability to induce leaky gut.

The Great Disruptor: Spike Protein Endothelial Disease (SPED) is also Spike Protein EPITHELIAL Disease
https://wmcresearch.substack.com/p/the-great-disruptor-spike-protein

Now we arrive at the wonders Metformin can do in the gut. Not only does it treat leaky gut, but it also increases beneficial flora within the gut microbiome.

Results:

In high-fat fed mice, metformin restored the tight junction protein occludin-1 levels in gut, reversed the elevated gut permeability and serum LPS levels, and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and Akkermansia muciniphila. Metformin also increased PKB Ser473 and AMPK T172 phosphorylation, decreased MDA contents and redox-sensitive PTEN protein levels, activated the anti-oxidative Nrf2 system, and increased IκBα in liver and muscle of the mice. Treatment with exogenous LPS abolished the beneficial effects of metformin on glucose metabolism, insulin signaling and oxidative stress in liver and muscle of the mice. Treatment with antibiotics alone produced similar effects as metformin did. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of antibiotics were addictive to those of metformin.

Conclusion:

Metformin administration attenuates endotoxemia and enhances insulin signaling in high-fat fed mice, which contributes to its anti-diabetic effects.

Metformin exerts glucose-lowering action in high-fat fed mice via attenuating endotoxemia and enhancing insulin signaling
https://www.nature.com/articles/aps201621

Metformin is well tolerated. This, of course, makes it yet another actually safe and effective treatment for those suffering from COVID, Long COVID and Spike Protein pathologies.

Please remember that the above is a work of medical research and not medical advice. Please feel free to share my work with your Primary Care Provide, who should always be consulted before using any medicine or supplement.

This Friday finds the weather finally Spring Glorious! It is 77 degrees and sunny. Wishing all a blessed, healthy and happy May weekend!

I will always have immense gratitude for your kind words, support, readership and dialog.