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Bored Studies
RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteersEarly Phase 1

Metformin and Muscle Recovery

University of Utah · NCT06185179

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 60+ · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Early Phase 1
Target enrollment
50
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
September 1, 2024
Record last updated
December 5, 2025

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study 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.

Being studied: Metformin; Placebo

Conditions: Muscle Atrophy or Weakness

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age between 60y and older
  • BMI: \<30 kg/m2
  • Good general medical health, ambulatory and in independent living setting
  • Adequate upper body strength to use assistive walking device (crutches, walker, etc) as assessed by PI/staff during screening
  • Clinical Frailty Scale score \< 3
  • Mini-Cog score > 3

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of cardiovascular disease (e.g., CHF, CAD, MI, CVA)
  • History of endocrine or metabolic disease such as hypo/hyperthyroidism and diabetes (Treated hypo/hyperthyroid for at least 6 months will be permitted)
  • History of kidney disease or failure (CKD > stage 4; serum creatinine >1.5mg/dL)
  • History of vascular disease
  • Risk of DVT including family history of thrombophilia, DVT, pulmonary emboli, myeloproliferative diseases including polycythemia (Hb>18 g/dL) or thrombocytosis (platelets>400x103/mL), and connective tissue diseases (positive lupus anticoagulant), hyperhomocystinemia, deficiencies of factor V Leiden, proteins S and C, and antithrombine III
  • Use of anticoagulant therapy (e.g., Coumadin, heparin)
  • Uncontrolled hypertension - Elevated systolic pressure >150 or a diastolic blood pressure > 100
  • Implanted electronic devices (e.g., pacemakers, electronic infusion pumps, stimulators)
  • Cancer or history of successfully treated cancer (less than 1 year) other than basal cell carcinoma
  • Chronic systemic corticosteroid use (≥ 2 weeks) within 4 weeks of enrollment and for study duration (intra-articular/topical/inhaled therapeutic or physiologic doses of corticosteroids will be permitted)
  • Androgens or growth hormone within 6 months of enrollment and for study duration (topical physiologic androgen replacement will be permitted)
  • Inability to abstain from smoking or vaping for duration of study
  • Currently taking estrogen products (topical estrogen products will be permitted)
  • Currently on weight loss diet or medication
  • History of stroke with motor disability
  • A recent history (\<12 months) of GI bleed
  • History of liver disease or AST/ALT 2 times above the normal limit
  • History of respiratory disease (acute upper respiratory infection, history of chronic lung disease)
  • Any staff members who report directly to the principal investigators

Recruiting US locations

  • University of Utah

    Salt Lake City, UT 84112

    Site contact: Micah Drummond, PhD · 8012132737 · micah.drummond@hsc.utah.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Micah Drummond · 801-213-2737 · micah.drummond@hsc.utah.edu
  • Rebekah Drummond · 801-839-4534 · u6044729@umail.utah.edu
All healthy volunteers studies in Utah →