An epigenetic aging analysis of randomized metformin and weight loss interventions in overweight postmenopausal breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Metformin and weight loss relationships with epigenetic age measures—biological aging biomarkers—remain understudied. We performed a post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial among overweight/obese breast cancer survivors (N = 192) assigned to metformin, placebo, weight loss with metformin, or weight loss with placebo interventions for 6 months. Epigenetic age was correlated with chronological age (r = 0.20–0.86; P < 0.005). However, no significant epigenetic aging associations were observed by intervention arms. Consistent with published reports in non-cancer patients, 6 months of metformin therapy may be inadequate to observe expected epigenetic age deceleration. Longer duration studies are needed to better characterize these relationships. Trial Registration: Registry Name: ClincialTrials.Gov. Registration Number: NCT01302379. Date of Registration: February 2011. URL:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01302379.