Metformin, the Aspirin of the 21st Century: Its Role in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Prevention of Preeclampsia and Cancer, and the Promotion of Longevity

Abstract

(Abstracted from Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017;217(3):282–302) Metformin (dimethylbiguanide hydrochloride) was initially introduced as an antidiabetic agent; however, in recent years, it has shown a wide array of beneficial effects ranging from cancer therapy to extending longevity. As a gestational antidiabetic agent, metformin has compared favorably to insulin by showing a significantly reduced frequency of neonatal hyperglycemia, large-for-gestational-age neonates, and admissions to a neonatal intensive care unit compared with those treated with insulin.