ArticlePloS one2012
Activation of AMPK by the putative dietary restriction mimetic metformin is insufficient to extend lifespan in Drosophila.
Article in PloS one, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 114 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
114 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 190 citations in OpenAlex.
- Repurposing effect of cardiovascular-metabolic drug to increase lifespan: a systematic review of animal studies and current clinical trial progress.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Pooled it
- Direct Pharmacological Activation of AMPK Extends Lifespan in Yeast, Worms and Flies.Aging cell · 2026Article
- Multi-omics reveals an ecdysone-activated Eip75B-FABP signaling axis coordinating nutrient metabolism for development in Hermetia illucens.Journal of advanced research · 2026Article
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- Tumor suppressor function of SHMT in a Drosophila RasCell death & disease · 2026Article
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- Metformin modulates survival, oxidative stress, and gene expression in a high-sucrose Drosophila diabetes model.PloS one · 2026Article
- Article
- Sex as a major determinant of pro-longevity drug efficacy: a review of two decades of the NIA Interventions Testing Program.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2025Review
- Development of a silkworms-based evaluation system for the extracts and compounds for their obesity and lipid metabolism improving activity.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Anti-diabetic drug pioglitazone reduces Islet amyloid aggregation overload in the Drosophila neuronal cells.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2025Article
- Dysfunctional BCAA degradation triggers neuronal damage through disrupted AMPK-mitochondrial axis due to enhanced PP2Ac interaction.Communications biology · 2025Article
- Metformin modulates the unfolded protein responses, altering lifespan and health-promoting effects in UPR-activated worms.PloS one · 2025Article
- Pharmacology of Aging:Aging biology · 2024Article
- The Role of Molecular and Cellular Aging Pathways on Age-Related Hearing Loss.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Translatability of life-extending pharmacological treatments between different species.Aging cell · 2024Review
- Effects ofNutrients · 2024Article
- Too old for healthy aging? Exploring age limits of longevity treatments.npj metabolic health and disease · 2024Review
- The genetic advantage of healthy centenarians: unraveling the central role of NLRP3 in exceptional healthspan.Frontiers in aging · 2024Review
- Article
54 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
The biguanide drug, metformin, commonly used to treat type-2 diabetes, has been shown to extend lifespan and reduce fecundity in C. elegans through a dietary restriction-like mechanism via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the AMPK-activating kinase, LKB1. We have investigated whether the longevity-promoting effects of metformin are evolutionarily conserved using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We show here that while feeding metformin to adult Drosophila resulted in a robust activation of AMPK and reduced lipid stores, it did not increase lifespan in either male or female flies. In fact, we found that when administered at high concentrations, metformin is toxic to flies. Furthermore, no decreases in female fecundity were observed except at the most toxic dose. Analysis of intestinal physiology after metformin treatment suggests that these deleterious effects may result from disruptions to intestinal fluid homeostasis. Thus, metformin appears to have evolutionarily conserved effects on metabolism but not on fecundity or lifespan.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.