Short-term metformin course proves ineffective for Long COVID symptoms in new study

A team of scientists from South Korea, led by Lim et al., recently conducted a randomized, double-blind study utilizing a placebo control. Their objective was to evaluate whether ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) or metformin could effectively manage symptoms associated with Long COVID.

Participants were assigned to one of three groups based on a 1:1:1 ratio for a duration of 14 days. During this period, subjects received either a double placebo, a daily intake of 900 mg of UDCA, or oral metformin that was uptitrated to a level of 1500 mg/d.

Upon conclusion of the trial, the findings indicated that neither therapeutic option offered any improvement when compared against the placebo.

The investigation into metformin was especially compelling due to prior evidence. Two earlier clinical trials had established that administering the drug during the acute phase of infection successfully lowered the odds of developing Long COVID. This discrepancy leads to the question: why is metformin effective as a preventative measure but unsuccessful as a treatment for established LC?

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