DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i03.027

Pages: 988-997

Introduction: The bone mass decreases with age, especially in postmenopausal women. Many drugs are used to preserve bone health. Metformin has also been shown to impact bone mass by activating AMP-activated protein kinase. This study is to evaluate bone preserving modality of metformin. Material & Method: 106 patients of either sex were studied for 1 year. They were distributed into two groups. Group -1 was recommended Metformin 250 mg twice a day, calcium (1000 mg), vitamin D₃ (1000 units) and vitamin C (500 mg) and Group-2, all medicines except metformin. Results: 106 Participants (19 male and 87 female) completed the study. Age (Mean ± SD) of female patients was 48.9 ± 13.05 and of male 48.91 ± 13.1. Presenting complaints were generalized aches and pain, symptoms of osteoarthritis and spondylosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, obesity and generalized weakness. Nine months after therapy female patients of age below 60 years, in both study groups, improved significantly, whereas in elderly male, patients with osteopenia improved better than with osteoporosis. Symptoms of generalized aches and pain improved in either sex of both groups. BMD improved appreciably in obese patients especially of Group-1 even without losing weight. Osteoarthritis and spondylosis patients also found to have significant BMD improvement in either sex of both groups. Conclusion: Though vitamin D has its own physiological action in maintaining bone health yet metformin also seems to be complementary, through different mechanism, in maintaining bone health. More studies for longer period are required, before metformin form part of prescription in maintaining bone health.