Metforim shown to protect colon and protective in IBD as well

It is impossible to say what a particular GI will do relative to one drug when the research is new. It depends a lot on the GI's evaluation of the research, the GI's experience, and even the GI's philosophy of treating symptoms vs inflammation.

The issue of metformin may not be a simple as you state. I only see a few articles investigating its role in inflammatory processes in mice studies. Almost all of the information turned up by google searches is based on a 2015 article about mice, and there are a few followups - also in mice. Yest, you are stating this as very strong and known fact.

The information about the extended release being so much better than the regular metformin is logical, but the research is largely by the drug company.

I think there is often a lot of confusion in IBD conversations about symptoms vs inflammation. The metformin may (more in some than others) cause motility symptoms, which could interfere with the release and largely topical action of mesalamine drugs.

You may tolerate metformin ER really well and this is important information to communicate to the GI. There is some evidence in mice models that metfrmin can down-regulate inflammation and promote health of mucosal linings. This is not a lot of research, and it had not been confirmed in humans. But it is something.

I would hope that if you say you tolerate it well and want to be on it, and even ask about the research in mice that the GI would be OK. Some GI do seem to get irritated when the patient has done too much web research, and you will have to evaluate that. But I would also be open to the information about experiences the GI has had with metformin in other patients because the research is new and non-human.

Ultimately it should be your choice, and you care should be a partnership with doctors. I know it is not always so ideal.

good luck



Metformin Improves Ileal Epithelial Barrier Function in Interleukin-10 Deficient Mice. (2016 Dec 21;11(12):e0168670. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168670. eCollection 2016.)
Xue Y, Zhang H, Sun X, Zhu MJ

Metformin Ameliorates Inflammatory Bowel Disease by Suppression of the STAT3 Signaling Pathway and Regulation of the between Th17/Treg Balance. (2015 Sep 11;10(9):e0135858. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135858. eCollection 2015)
Lee SY, Lee SH, Yang EJ, Kim EK, Kim JK, Shin DY, Cho ML

Post Edited (DBwithUC) : 1/16/2017 11:01:51 AM (GMT-7)

Yes, I have been in some facebook diabetic groups that say the same thing about Met helping diabetics live longer than non diabetics. I've been on a mostly low carb diet to control my blood sugar.
My goal is to have my blood sugar low enough to get off of Metforim. From the research people show it isn't just high blood sugar that gets diabetics but the high insulin levels as well. People with type two are insulin resistant, so there is a lot more insulin. People can be non diabetic and be insulin resistant and they have cancer, heart disease and strokes from the excess insulin.
It's very interesting and the doctors that wrote articles about lowering insulin levels as well make a lot of sense. Metforim helps with insulin resistance, so perhaps that is what is going on.

I have no clue what he will say. I know Januvia didn't work and it had too many complaints of cancer with it.No thank you.