Metformin Use in Adolescents: Old and New Therapeutic Perspectives

Abstract

Metformin (dimethylbiguanide) is now considered to be the most widely prescribed agent in the treatment of diabetes. The global increase in the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents is accompanied by the appearance and increasing prevalence of insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition, children and adolescents with premature pubarche and polycystic ovary have considerable degree of insulin resistance. The insulin sensitizing action/s of Metformin encourage (add s to encourage to be encourages) many investigators and physician to use it as the primary drug of choice in these conditions for both prevention and treatment. However, long term controlled studies are still required to assess the degree and duration of effectiveness and safety of using Metformin. In this review the old and new therapeutic perspectives of this drug are presented.