Origin & tradition
Originally derived from Galega officinalis (French lilac); now a first-line diabetes prescription drug.
Western tradition · Biguanide · prescription
Metformin 二甲双胍
The diabetes drug at the center of the longevity debate — and the TAME trial designed to test aging itself.
3,085ClinicalTrials.gov matched
3554PubMed RCT records
1343Meta-analysis records
286+PubMed records
MetforminKey active compound
Data definition. Matched records include all indexed medical endpoints for this intervention — not only longevity. Longevity-relevant records are screened separately and cited in the evidence summary below. Counts are matched-record volumes, not de-duplicated trials and not efficacy claims.
Why longevity buyers care
Key active: Metformin (biguanide).
Metformin activates AMPK and dampens hepatic glucose output; observational data hint at lower age-related disease in diabetics, and the landmark TAME trial is designed to test whether it slows aging endpoints in non-diabetics.
Effect summary
Studied health outcomes
Editorial summary — This table is curated by hand from published research consensus, not automatically calculated from our trial database. Grades reflect our interpretation of the literature. Treat as a starting point, not a definitive verdict. See the Evidence panel below for the underlying trial and paper counts sourced directly from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed.
| Health outcome | Effect | Magnitude | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting blood glucose | Decreases | Strong | A |
| HbA1c | Decreases | Strong | A |
| AMPK activation | Increases | Strong | A |
| All-cause mortality (diabetics) | Decreases | Moderate | B |
| Cardiovascular events | Decreases | Moderate | B |
| Cancer incidence (observational) — Observational only; confounding possible | Decreases | Minor | C |
| Vitamin B12 levels — Long-term depletion; supplement B12 during use | Decreases | Moderate | B |
Grade: A = robust RCTs · B = several RCTs / meta-analysis · C = limited or mixed RCTs · D = observational or early data
Dosage guidance
How Metformin is typically used
Prescription medication — requires a licensed prescriber. Not a supplement.
- Typical dose
- 500–2,000 mg/day (standard T2DM dose); 500–1,000 mg/day (longevity off-label)
- Form
- tablet (prescription only — metformin HCl)
- Timing
- with meals to reduce GI side effects; extended-release form reduces nausea
PRESCRIPTION ONLY. Standard diabetes dose is 500–2,550 mg/day in divided doses. The TAME trial (Targeting Aging with Metformin) is evaluating 1,500 mg/day for longevity in non-diabetics. Long-term use depletes vitamin B12 — supplement accordingly.
Informational only — not a prescription or personalised medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement or medication.
Evidence summary
What the research actually says
78Evidence confidence
Extensive human-trial evidence3,554 randomized controlled trials · 1,343 meta-analyses / systematic reviews
Large clinical use; longevity endpoint trial (TAME) pending
Metformin activates AMPK and dampens hepatic glucose output; observational data hint at lower age-related disease in diabetics, and the landmark TAME trial is designed to test whether it slows aging endpoints in non-diabetics.
3,085registered clinical trials reference this intervention
3selected from 286+ PubMed papers (longevity / aging angle)
Key active: Metformin (biguanide).
According to PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov: trial counts from ClinicalTrials.gov, peer-reviewed literature from PubMed. Counts auto-refresh weekly; last checked 2026-07-19. They include trials across many endpoints, not only longevity.
Informational only — not medical advice, a treatment claim, or a substitute for a qualified clinician. Evidence strength varies; we show mixed and null results on purpose.
Evidence collections
Metformin appears in
Compare the evidence
Related ingredients
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85An alkaloid from Chinese herbs (Coptis / Huang Lian) with human RCTs on metabolic health and an AMPK/sirtuin longevity rationale.
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88The most-studied tea catechin, linked to lifespan and healthspan in models via AMPK, sirtuin and FOXO pathways.
Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG)
73A TCA-cycle metabolite that suppresses mTOR, co-factors DNA demethylation, and showed biological-age reduction in a 2023 human RCT.
Gynostemma (Jiaogulan)绞股蓝
70“Southern ginseng,” a Chinese herb whose gypenosides activate AMPK — the metabolic longevity pathway.
Compare the evidence
How Metformin stacks up
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