Metformin reduces the metabolic complications of systemic glucocorticoid therapy while preserving its anti-inflammatory benefits, according to results from a proof-of-concept phase-2 trial.

UK researchers evaluated the potential of metformin to reduce the metabolic side effects of glucocorticoid therapy in their randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 53 patients without diabetes but with an inflammatory disease treated with continuous prednisolone.

Because of discontinuations due to various reasons, only 19 patients in the metformin group and 21 patients in the placebo group were eligible for analysis.

The primary outcome, the ratio of visceral-fat area to subcutaneous-fat area over 12 weeks (a surrogate for metabolic risk), did not change significantly between the treatment groups, and there were no significant changes in weight or waist circumference over the 12 weeks.