Aging
Conditions
Keywords
aging, metformin, prediabetes
Brief summary
Metformin, an FDA approved first-line drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has known beneficial effects on glucose metabolism. Evidence from animal models and in vitro studies suggest that in addition to its effects on glucose metabolism, metformin may influence metabolic and cellular processes associated with the development of age-related conditions, such as inflammation, oxidative damage, diminished autophagy, cell senescence and apoptosis. As such, metformin is of particular interest in clinical translational research in aging since it may influence fundamental aging factors that underlie multiple age-related conditions. The investigators therefore propose a pilot study to examine the effect of metformin treatment on the biology of aging in humans. Namely, whether treatment with metformin will restore the gene expression profile of older adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) to that of young healthy subjects.
Detailed description
Aging in humans is a well-established primary risk factor for many disabling diseases and conditions, among them diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. In fact, the risk of death from these causes is dramatically accelerated (100-1000 fold) between the ages of 35 and 85 years. For this reason, there is a need for the development of new interventions to improve and maintain health into old age - to improve healthspan. Several mechanisms have been shown to delay the aging process, resulting in improved healthspan in animal models, including mammals. These include caloric restriction, alteration in GH/IGF1 pathways, as well as use of several drugs such as resveratrol (SIRT1 activator) and rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor). At Einstein, the investigators have been working to discover pathways associated with exceptional longevity. The investigators propose the study of drugs already in common clinical use (and FDA approved) for a possible alternative purpose -healthy aging. The investigators goal is to identify additional mechanisms involved in aging, the delay of aging and the prevention of age-related diseases. In this proposal, the investigators explore the possibility of a commonly used drug, metformin, to reverse relevant aspects of the physiology and biology of aging. Metformin is an FDA approved drug in common use in the US since the 1990s. It is the first-line drug of choice for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The effect of metformin on aging has been extensively studied, and has been associated with longevity in many rodent models. Metformin also extends the lifespan of nematodes, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved mechanism. A recent high impact study demonstrated that metformin reduces oxidative stress and inflammation and extends both lifespan and health span in a mouse model . If indeed metformin is an anti-aging drug, its administration should be associated with less age-related disease in general, rather than the decreased incidence of a single age-related disease. This notion led investigators to further study whether anti-aging effects can be demonstrated in the type 2 diabetes population. Notably, in the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) metformin, compared with other anti-diabetes drugs, demonstrated a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. This has been suggested in other studies and meta-analyses and remains an active area of research. In addition, numerous epidemiologic studies have shown an association of metformin use with a decreased risk of cancer, as well as decreased cancer mortality. There is also evidence from studies performed both in-vitro and in-vivo of metformin's role in attenuating tumorigenesis. The mechanisms proposed relate to its effects on reducing insulin levels, improved insulin action, decreased IGF-1 signaling (central to mammalian longevity), as well as activation of AMP-kinase. In fact, metformin's potential protective effect against cancer has been gaining much attention, with over 100 ongoing studies registered on the Clinical Trials.gov website. To characterize pathways associated with increased lifespan and healthspan, the investigators plan to compile a repository of muscle and adipose biopsy samples obtained from young healthy subjects and older adults before and after treatment with potential anti-aging drugs. RNA-Seq analysis will be used to identify a unique biological fingerprint for aging in these tissues by comparing changes in gene expression in older adults post-drug therapy to the profiles of young healthy subjects. This overall approach is supported by a grant from the Glenn Foundation for the Study of the Biology of Human Aging. The investigators believe that if metformin changes the biology of aging in tissues to a younger profile, it supports the notion that this drug may have more widespread use - as an anti-aging drug.
Interventions
DRUGMetformin
To determine if treatment with metformin (1700 mg/day) will restore the gene expression profile of older, glucose intolerant adults to that of young healthy subjects.
DRUGPlacebo
there is no other name we used for the placebo
Sponsors
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Men and women; 2. age \>60 years with IGT based on 75g OGTT (fasting plasma glucose \< 126 mg/dl, 2-hr glucose between 140 - 199 mg/dl); 3. this definition of IGT will include individuals with combined impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and IGT. The investigators chose these inclusion criteria in order to study subjects who have evidence of impaired glucose regulation, but are not yet diabetic.
Exclusion criteria
1. Serious chronic or acute illness: cancer, clinically significant congestive heart failure, COPD, inflammatory conditions, serum creatinine \> 1.4 mg/dl (female) or \> 1.5 mg/dl (male), active liver disease, history of metabolic acidosis, poorly controlled hypertension, epilepsy, recent (within 3 months) CVD event (MI, PTCA, CABG, stroke); history of bariatric or other gastric surgery, cigarette smoking, binge alcohol use (\>7 drinks in 24 hrs). 2. Treatment with drugs known to influence glucose metabolism (other diabetes medications, systemic glucocorticoids, pharmacologic doses of niacin) 3. Hypersensitivity to metformin or any component of the formulation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Increase in Number of Expressed Genes in Muscle and Adipose Tissue Using RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) | 6 weeks | The investigators hypothesize that treatment with metformin will result in changes in the transcriptome. The investigators will test this by identifying increases in gene expression in muscle and adipose tissue with RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) in metformin and in placebo. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed Meal Tolerance. Assessment of Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Secretion (Using a Modification of the Matsuda Index) | 6 weeks | Assessment of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. Insulin sensitivity will be estimated from insulin and glucose levels obtained following the standard meal challenge, using a modification of the Matsuda index, which has been widely used for non-invasive assessment of insulin sensitivity and shows good correlation (r=0.73) with results obtained from euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. A higher Matsuda index indicates better insulin sensitivity. The insulin sensitivity index (ISI (comp) was calculated using the following equation (where g denotes glucose at various time points and i denotes insulin at various time points): ISI (comp)= 10000/ ((g0\*i0\* ((g0\*15+ g30\*30+ g60\*30+ g90\*30+ g120\*30+ g180\*30+ g240\*15)/240))\* ((i0\*15+ i30\*30+ i60\*30+ i90\*30\*+ i120\*30+ i180\*30+ i240\*15)/240))\^0.5 |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Metformin FIRST, Then Placebo Metformin, an FDA approved first-line drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has known beneficial effects on glucose metabolism.
In the metformin first group, individuals took 1700mg/day metformin in 2 doses for 6 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of washout, and concluding with placebo capsules that matched the metformin for 6 weeks. | 8 |
| Placebo FIRST, Then Metformin In the placebo first group, individuals took placebo capsules that matched metformin for 6 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of washout, and concluding with metformin 1700mg/day (in 2 doses) for 6 weeks. | 8 |
| Total | 16 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Metformin FIRST, Then Placebo | Total | Placebo FIRST, Then Metformin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-hour glucose | 153 mg/dL STANDARD_DEVIATION 13 | 162 mg/dL STANDARD_DEVIATION 21 | 171 mg/dL STANDARD_DEVIATION 24 |
| Age, Continuous | 69 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.7 | 71 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.4 | 74 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4 |
| Antihypertensive therapy | 5 Participants | 11 Participants | 6 Participants |
| Aspirin therapy | 2 Participants | 5 Participants | 3 Participants |
| BMI | 28 kg/m^2 STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.1 | 30 kg/m^2 STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.3 | 32 kg/m^2 STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.4 |
| Fasting glucose | 108 mg/dL STANDARD_DEVIATION 13 | 105 mg/dL STANDARD_DEVIATION 12 | 102 mg/dL STANDARD_DEVIATION 10 |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 3 Participants | 4 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 5 Participants | 12 Participants | 7 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 8 Participants | 16 Participants | 8 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 3 Participants | 6 Participants | 3 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 5 Participants | 10 Participants | 5 Participants |
| Statin therapy | 3 Participants | 6 Participants | 3 Participants |
| Weight | 84 kg STANDARD_DEVIATION 14 | 87 kg STANDARD_DEVIATION 16 | 89 kg STANDARD_DEVIATION 17 |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 15 | 0 / 15 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 15 | 2 / 15 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 1 / 15 | 0 / 15 |
Outcome results
Primary
Increase in Number of Expressed Genes in Muscle and Adipose Tissue Using RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq)
The investigators hypothesize that treatment with metformin will result in changes in the transcriptome. The investigators will test this by identifying increases in gene expression in muscle and adipose tissue with RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) in metformin and in placebo.
Time frame: 6 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metformin Treatment | Increase in Number of Expressed Genes in Muscle and Adipose Tissue Using RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) | genes increased in muscle | 245 genes |
| Metformin Treatment | Increase in Number of Expressed Genes in Muscle and Adipose Tissue Using RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) | genes increased in adipose | 15 genes |
| Placebo Treatment | Increase in Number of Expressed Genes in Muscle and Adipose Tissue Using RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) | genes increased in muscle | 402 genes |
| Placebo Treatment | Increase in Number of Expressed Genes in Muscle and Adipose Tissue Using RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) | genes increased in adipose | 132 genes |
Secondary
Mixed Meal Tolerance. Assessment of Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Secretion (Using a Modification of the Matsuda Index)
Assessment of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. Insulin sensitivity will be estimated from insulin and glucose levels obtained following the standard meal challenge, using a modification of the Matsuda index, which has been widely used for non-invasive assessment of insulin sensitivity and shows good correlation (r=0.73) with results obtained from euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. A higher Matsuda index indicates better insulin sensitivity. The insulin sensitivity index (ISI (comp) was calculated using the following equation (where g denotes glucose at various time points and i denotes insulin at various time points): ISI (comp)= 10000/ ((g0\*i0\* ((g0\*15+ g30\*30+ g60\*30+ g90\*30+ g120\*30+ g180\*30+ g240\*15)/240))\* ((i0\*15+ i30\*30+ i60\*30+ i90\*30\*+ i120\*30+ i180\*30+ i240\*15)/240))\^0.5
Time frame: 6 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metformin Treatment | Mixed Meal Tolerance. Assessment of Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Secretion (Using a Modification of the Matsuda Index) | 5.6 index | Standard Deviation 3.9 |
| Placebo Treatment | Mixed Meal Tolerance. Assessment of Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Secretion (Using a Modification of the Matsuda Index) | 4.1 index | Standard Deviation 2.1 |