Diabetes Care

Metformin and Mediterranean diet reduce diabetes risk in metabolic syndrome

February 4, 2025

Metformin 1,700 mg/day is effective, particularly when combined with a Mediterranean diet, in preventing T2DM among individuals with metabolic syndrome. These findings support the integration of lifestyle interventions with pharmacotherapy for optimal diabetes prevention.

Study details: The MeMeMe randomized trial evaluated 1,442 participants with metabolic syndrome, assigning them to one of four groups: metformin (1,700 mg/day) plus Mediterranean diet (MedDiet); placebo plus MedDiet; metformin alone; or placebo alone. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) over an average follow-up of 3 years.

Results: The combination of metformin and a Mediterranean diet significantly reduced the incidence of NCDs compared with placebo. Specifically, incidence rates were 6.7 per 100 person-years for metformin plus MedDiet, 6.9 for metformin alone, 13.3 for placebo plus MedDiet, and 11.3 for placebo. The observed differences were due to a substantial decrease in T2DM incidence, which was 80% lower in the metformin group and 92% lower in the metformin plus MedDiet group compared with placebo.

Source:

Pasanisi P, et al. (2025, February 1). Diabetes Care. Metformin Treatment With or Without Mediterranean Diet for the Prevention of Age-Related Diseases in People With Metabolic Syndrome: The MeMeMe Randomized Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39641916/