Metformin and thyroid; a narrative review to current concepts

Abstract

Metformin has different metabolic effects on diverse tissues through various pathways such as hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. It is shown that metformin influence on thyroid structure considerably and reduced nodule volume by 30-50% of the first volume in diabetic patients. Besides, metformin shows anti-mitogenic and proapoptotic properties in thyroid cancer cells and enhances the antitumor effect of chemotherapeutic drugs. It prevents cancer growth by reduction of hyperinsulinemia too.

Keywords: Thyroid, Hypothyroidism, Metformin