The Effects of Metformin on Blood Vessel Structure and Function
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00105066 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: March 4, 2005
Results First Posted
: January 18, 2017
Last Update Posted
: January 18, 2017
|
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Obesity Hypertension Hypercholesterolemia Hyperglycemia | Drug: Metformin Drug: Placebo | Phase 2 |
Individuals with the Metabolic Syndrome (MeS) are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. This increased risk may, in part, be related to abnormalities in the blood vessels. MeS is defined as having 3 or more of the following 5 criteria:
- Abdominal obesity (waist measurement >39.8 inches in men, >34.4 inches in women)
- Elevated triglycerides (>150 mg/dl)
- Low HDL or "good" cholesterol (<40 mg/dl in men or <50 mg/dl in women)
- Elevated blood pressure (>130/85) or treatment for high blood pressure
- Elevated fasting blood sugar (>100 mg/dl)
Metformin is a medication that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of diabetes; however, it can also be safely administered to non-diabetic subjects. We are evaluating whether Metformin reduces the stiffness of blood vessels and improves endothelial function.
This study requires 4 visits to the NIA Clinical Research Center (located on the premises of Harbor Hospital) over a 5-month period. At the initial visit, patients will be given a physical examination with blood and urine tests, and an EKG. They will be randomized into one of two groups; one group will receive Metformin (1700 mg per day), while the other group will receive a placebo. Participants will take the medication for 4 months. Subsequent visits will include additional blood tests, ultrasound and echo exams.
Taking part in this study is entirely voluntary. All testing and medications will be provided at no cost to the participant or their family.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 77 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | The Effects of Metformin on Vascular Structure and Function in Subjects With the Metabolic Syndrome (MET Trial) |
Study Start Date : | January 2004 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 2008 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | May 2008 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
placebo
|
Drug: Placebo
placebo tablet once a day for one month, then twice a day for 3 months
|
Experimental: Metformin
Metformin 850 mg twice daily
|
Drug: Metformin
850mg tablet once a day for one month, then twice a day for 3 months
Other Name: Fortamet®; Glucophage®; Glumetza™; Riomet™
|
- Change in Arterial Stiffness Compared to Baseline [ Time Frame: Baseline and 4.5 months ]
- Change in Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 4.5 months ]to evaluate improvement in endothelial function

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 21 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
Participants with the Metabolic Syndrome, which is defined as having 3 or more of the following 5 alterations:
- Abdominal obesity (waist measurement >39.8 inches in men, >34.4 inches in women)
- Elevated triglycerides (>150 mg/dl)
- Low HDL or "good" cholesterol (<40 mg/dl in men or <50 mg/dl in women)
- Elevated blood pressure (>130/85) or treatment for high blood pressure
- Elevated fasting blood sugar (>100 mg/dl)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diabetes treated with medication
- Blood pressure >160/100 mmHg
- Clinical Congestive Heart Failure
- Anemia with hematocrit <32%
- Asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) requiring daily medication or use of home oxygen therapy
- Major surgery planned within the next six months
- A recent, unexplained weight loss of >10% of body weight in the past 6 months
- A known allergy or hypersensitivity to Metformin
- History of hepatitis or cirrhosis
- History of kidney disease (defined as serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL in men, >1.3 mg/dL in women)
- Pregnancy or the absence of an effective method of contraception
- Illicit drug or alcohol abuse
- Cancer requiring treatment currently or recently completed treatment in the last 2 months

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00105066
United States, Maryland | |
National Institute on Aging (NIA), Harbor Hospital | |
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21225 |
Principal Investigator: | Luigi Ferrucci, MD | National Institute on Aging (NIA) | |
Principal Investigator: | James Strait, M.D., Ph.D. | National Institute on Aging (NIA) |
Publications:
Responsible Party: | National Institute on Aging (NIA) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00105066 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
AG0017 |
First Posted: | March 4, 2005 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | January 18, 2017 |
Last Update Posted: | January 18, 2017 |
Last Verified: | January 2017 |
Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) ( National Institute on Aging (NIA) ):
Metabolic Syndrome triglycerides HDL LDL |
High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol High Blood Sugar |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Hypercholesterolemia Hyperglycemia Hyperlipidemias Dyslipidemias Lipid Metabolism Disorders |
Metabolic Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metformin Hypoglycemic Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs |