SynthesisEndocrine2020
Effects of metformin on blood lipid profiles in nondiabetic adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Endocrine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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
11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and safety of variable-dose metformin as adjunctive therapy to insulin in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMC endocrine disorders · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of Metformin on CIMT and FMD in PCOS patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC women's health · 2024Pooled it
- Association of Metformin With Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA network open · 2020 · on this mapPooled it
- The Molecular Mechanisms of Metformin's Action on Blood Lipid Profile in Diabetic Patients.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Management of dyslipidaemia in patients with comorbidities: facing the challenge: type 2 diabetes mellitus.European heart journal. Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy · 2025Review
- Article
- Adipsin and Leptin Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients on Sitagliptin and Metformin Versus Metformin Therapy.Sisli Etfal Hastanesi tip bulteni · 2024Article
- Metformin modulates the gut microbiome in a mice model of high-fat diet-induced glycolipid metabolism disorder.BMJ open diabetes research & care · 2022Article
- Sodium-glucose cotransporter protein-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists versus thiazolidinediones for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A network meta-analysis.Acta diabetologica · 2022Article
- Assessment of Early Markers of Cardiovascular Risk in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.TouchREVIEWS in endocrinology · 2021Review
- Metformin and Vascular Diseases: A Focused Review on Smooth Muscle Cell Function.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2020Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
purposeTo evaluate the effects of metformin on serum lipid profiles in nondiabetic adults through a comprehensive meta-analysis.
methodsIn the present meta-analysis, randomized and controlled trials were collected by searching PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Libraries from inception to April 2019. Compared with placebos, the effects of metformin treatment on lipid profiles in nondiabetic adults were evaluated.
resultsForty-seven studies from 45 articles including 5731 participants were enrolled. Pooled results showed that metformin had significant effects on total cholesterol (mean change -6.57 mg/dl; 95% CI -9.66, -3.47; P = 0.000) and LDL-c (mean change -4.69 mg/dl; 95% CI -7.38, -2.00; P = 0.001), but insignificant effects on HDL-c (mean change -4.33 mg/dl; 95% CI -9.62, 0.96; P = 0.109) and triglyceride (mean change -0.85 mg/dl; 95% CI -0.36, 2.06; P = 0.169). Significant heterogeneities were found for all lipid profiles (HDL-c = 85.5%; LDL-c = 59.9%; total cholesterol = 75.3% and triglyceride = 67.1%). Different from the pooled data, in a subgroup analysis, the effect of metformin on triglyceride in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was significant with a mean reduction of 8.15 mg/dl. In addition, sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled effects of metformin on serum lipid profiles were stable. Publication bias derived from funnel plots or Begg's tests (P = 0.933, 0.860, 0.904, and 0.567 for HDL-c, LDL-c, total cholesterol, and triglyceride, respectively) was not significant.
conclusionThis meta-analysis revealed that metformin could reduce total cholesterol and LDL-c in nondiabetic adults. In addition, metformin might exert a triglyceride-lowering effect in nondiabetics with PCOS status.
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.