Pregnant Mothers Enrolled in Metformin Study

Metformin depletes vitamin B12  and it can lead to metabolic acidosis, yet UK researchers think that giving this drug to pregnant women can reduce obesity in their children. 

I can't imagine the twisted mind of the person or persons who thought this one up, or those who give the funding.  I am just shaking my head in amazement!

Drug trial to prevent obese kids

Obese pregnant women are to be given a drug to reduce the risk of obesity in their children as part of an NHS trial.

Overweight women supply too much food to a growing baby which can lead to health problems for mother and child.

UK doctors want to try to control this with metformin, which is used to treat diabetes.

Weight Concern said it was an intriguing idea, but ideally women should reach a normal weight before pregnancy.

The researchers leading this study say 15% of pregnant women arriving at many UK hospitals are obese.

It can increase a woman's risk death, pre-eclampsia and of their babies being stillborn or large.

Larger babies are more likely to be obese later in life.

It is thought that obese pregnant women are more resistant to the hormone insulin, which prevents blood sugar levels from getting too high.

Metformin reduces insulin resistance.

It is hoped this will reduce the amount of sugar going to the baby so it is born at a normal size.

Four hundred women will take part in the trial.

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: "It's intriguing and sadly it's necessary to look at.

"In an ideal world you would want women to take stock of their weight before pregnancy, but in reality that's not going to happen."

SOURCE:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13333175

Warnings for use of Metformin in Pregnancy

Recent information strongly suggests that abnormal blood glucose levels during pregnancy are associated with a higher incidence of congenital abnormalities. Most experts recommend that insulin be used during pregnancy to maintain blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, metformin should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly needed.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women with immediate-release metformin. Metformin was not teratogenic in rats and rabbits at doses up to 600 mg/kg/day. This represents an exposure of about two and six times the maximum recommended human daily dose of 2000 mg based on body surface area comparisons for rats and rabbits, respectively. Determination of fetal concentrations demonstrated a partial placental barrier to metformin.


Nursing Mothers - Studies in lactating rats show that metformin is excreted into milk and reaches levels comparable to those in plasma. Similar studies have not been conducted in nursing mothers. Because the potential for hypoglycemia in nursing infants may exist, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. If metformin is discontinued, and if diet alone is inadequate for controlling blood glucose, insulin therapy should be considered. 

Pediatric Use - Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. SOURCE: Rx List.