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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

This review describes our current understanding of the role of the mitochondria in the repurposing of the anti-diabetes drugs metformin, gliclazide, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors for additional clinical benefits regarding unhealthy aging, long COVID, mental neurogenerative disorders, and obesity. Metformin, the most prominent of these diabetes drugs, has been called the “Drug of Miracles and Wonders,” as clinical trials have found it to be beneficial for human patients suffering from these maladies. To promote viral replication in all infected human cells, SARS-CoV-2 stimulates the infected liver cells to produce glucose and to export it into the blood stream, which can cause diabetes in long COVID patients, and metformin, which reduces the levels of glucose in the blood, was shown to cut the incidence rate of long COVID in half for all patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2. Metformin leads to the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase AMPK, which accelerates the import of glucose into cells via the glucose transporter GLUT4 and switches the cells to the starvation mode, counteracting the virus. Diabetes drugs also stimulate the unfolded protein response and thus mitophagy, which is beneficial for healthy aging and mental health. Diabetes drugs were also found to mimic exercise and help to reduce body weight.

Details

Title
Mitochondria and the Repurposing of Diabetes Drugs for Off-Label Health Benefits
Author
Xin Yip, Joyce Mei 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Grace Shu Hui Chiang 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Chong Jin Lee, Ian 3 ; Lehming-Teo, Rachel 1 ; Dai, Kexin 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Dongol, Lokeysh 1 ; Laureen Yi-Ting Wang 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Teo, Denise 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Geok Teng Seah 6   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Lehming, Norbert 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore[email protected] (R.L.-T.); 
 Well Programme, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 159964, Singapore; [email protected] (G.S.H.C.); 
 NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, Singapore 129957, Singapore 
 Well Programme, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 159964, Singapore; [email protected] (G.S.H.C.); ; Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre, National University Health System, Singapore 119074, Singapore; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore 159964, Singapore 
 Chi Longevity, Camden Medical Centre #10-04, 1 Orchard Blvd, Singapore 248649, Singapore 
 Clifford Dispensary, 77 Robinson Rd #06-02, Singapore 068896, Singapore 
First page
364
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
ISSN
16616596
e-ISSN
14220067
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3153754135
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.