Actively Recruiting
Metformin and Muscle Recovery
Led by University of Utah · Updated on 2025-12-05
50
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
299 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
A hallmark of aging is an impaired ability to adequately recover following a stressor, such as muscle disuse, resulting in muscle fibrosis and weakness thereby increasing the risk for falls and loss of independence. Mechanistic-based therapeutic strategies to enhance muscle recovery in older adults do not exist. Metformin has been implicated to have positive effects on muscle size and function through non-glycemic mechanisms. Metformin has been shown to enhance macrophage function and lessen cellular senescence burden by targeting SASP in a variety of muscle interstitial cells. However, the role of metformin to improve muscle recovery in older adults following disuse atrophy through immunomodulating and senomorphic mechanisms have not been examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in older adult participants to determine if short-term metformin delivery (vs placebo) during the recovery phase following disuse atrophy can improve muscle regrowth.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Metformin and Muscle Recovery
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 60 years and older
- Body mass index (BMI) less than 30 kg/m2
- Good general medical health, ambulatory, and living independently
- Adequate upper body strength to use assistive walking devices like crutches or a walker
- Clinical Frailty Scale score less than 3
- Mini-Cog cognitive assessment score greater than 3
You will not qualify if you...
- History of cardiovascular disease such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke
- History of endocrine or metabolic diseases like hypo/hyperthyroidism or diabetes (treated hypo/hyperthyroidism for at least 6 months allowed)
- History of kidney disease or failure (chronic kidney disease stage greater than 4 or serum creatinine over 1.5 mg/dL)
- History of vascular disease
- Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), including family history of thrombophilia, blood clotting disorders, or connective tissue diseases
- Use of anticoagulant therapy such as Coumadin or heparin
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure (systolic over 150 or diastolic over 100)
- Presence of implanted electronic devices like pacemakers or infusion pumps
- Cancer or history of treated cancer within the past year except basal cell carcinoma
- Use of systemic corticosteroids for 2 weeks or more within 4 weeks before enrollment or during the study
- Use of androgens or growth hormone within 6 months before enrollment or during the study
- Inability to abstain from smoking or vaping during the study
- Current use of estrogen products (topical estrogen allowed)
- Currently on a weight loss diet or medication
- History of stroke with motor disability
- Recent gastrointestinal bleeding within 12 months
- History of liver disease or elevated liver enzymes (AST/ALT more than twice the normal limit)
- History of respiratory disease such as chronic lung disease or recent upper respiratory infection
- Staff members reporting directly to the principal investigators
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84112
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Micah Drummond
CONTACT
R
Rebekah Drummond
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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