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Large study of over 3,000 adults shows lifestyle changes are more effective, than metformin, in reducing development of type II diabetes.  CRP, inflammatory marker, reduced at 1 year more in lifestyle (29%) versus metformin (14%).     And don't forget all the nutritional deficiencies that metformin creates.

Study out of Canada finds that Metformin reduces mortality rates for all-cause and due to prostate cancer in those with diabetes.  The key point here is glucose.  Metformin is going to inhibit gluconeogenesis and this limit hepatic glucose production feeding the cancer.  This is just the abstract and several questions come to mind: what was the glucose control like in these patients?  What dietary changes if any were these patients following?  A better study would be to compare the effects of a ketogenic diet with restriction of glutamine versus the metformin.

Data review finds NAC improves pregnancy rates and ovulation rates in women with PCOS against placebo.  Meta-analysis revealed limited studies on the topic.  When compared to metformin, there was no difference found.  Though, one wonders if attacking insulin resistance through proper diet and additional neutraceutical approach would negate that.  The reason?  NAC and metformin are working in different biochemical pathways.  The authors here seem to not realize this. It appears that they think NAC and metormin are both working in the same manner, but they don't.  The fact that there is still benefit found compared to placebo, despited the authors lack of understanding of what NAC is and does is a positive.

metformin shown to result in increased homocysteine through depletion of folate. Metformin is also known to deplete vitamin B12 and CoQ10.  

Editorial discussing the benefit of Metformin in prostate cancer.  The effect is through the inhbition of gluconeogenesis.  However, one wonders if a ketogenic diet with restriction of l-Glutamine would have the same effect without the potential side effects of Metformin?  The answer is logically yes.  

Small study in thyroid cancer finds that metformin reduces tumor size versus those not treated with metformin. The individuals in this study were Diabetics also.

Metformin inhibits LPS induced IL-1beta stimulation.  Interesting that metformin is a inhibitor of complex I in the electron transport chain.

Lifestyle interventions significantly reduced weight and incidence of type II Diabetes compared to metformin.  Both significantly reduced the incidence, but lifestyle interventions were more beneficial than metformin.

I find this study a good example of the distortion in medical science.  This study looked at lifestyle changes as its effect on hormones and glucose regulation.  This study found a decrease in estrogen, decrease in DHEA, and an increase in SHBG.  However, they included metformin therapy in the lifestyle arm of the study.  What about metformin is "lifestyle"?

metformin improves survival rate in ovarian cancer

Again, showing that metformin suppresses TSH secretion without change in actual thyroid hormone levels.  We know that inflammation plays a role in HPA suppression, why not with TSH?

Metformin shown to suppress TSH secretion without change in free t4 or free t3 levels.  This again, shows the lack of reliability of the test TSH.  With the suppression of TSH indicated in this study, the free t4 and t3 should have been elevated, but were obviously not.

lifestyle changes more effective than metformin in Type 2 diabetes

metformin caused a decrease in total and free testosterone in men

Lifestyle interventions reduced the incidence of metabolic syndrome by 41% versus only 17% in the metformin group.

Oral vitamin C shown to reduce fast blood glucose, post meal blood glucose, and HgbA1C.  This study was down with metformin.  Vitamin C was used with metformin in those with type II DM.  This supports the use of vitamin C in blood sugar control.  Vitamin C does not increase blood glucose levels.

Studies like this surprise me. This study lauds the benefit of metformin as a breast cancer protective in postmenopuasal womb.  Their focus is on the bandaid--the prescription drug.  They completely ignore the cause--glucose.  The Warburg effect in cancer is well known.  Limit simple sugar intake and support oxidative phosphorylation will do the same.  That is treating the cause.

Lifestyle changes are more effective than metformin in Diabetes prevention in high risk individuals

Great review on the multi-prong effect of metformin on cancer cells. Of particular to this article, is the effects on CSCs.

Metformin prolongs survival in pancreatic cancer. Though, the evidence for prolonging survival decreased with advancing disease i.e. metastatic disease.