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.