- Although gum disease occurs in the mouth, previous research shows it can affect health in other parts of the body, such as the heart and bones.
- Researchers from King’s College London recently found that metformin —a common type 2 diabetes drug—may help improve clinical outcomes for non-diabetic people with gum disease.
- The same study also found that metformin may help prevent bone loss caused by either periodontal disease or aging via both mouse and clinical trials.
About
Also known as gum disease, this condition occurs when the tissues holding teeth in place become infected. If left untreated, periodontal disease can damage bones in the mouth and ultimately lead to tooth loss.
Periodontal disease can also impact other areas of the body. Previous studies link gum disease to an increased risk for
Now, researchers from King’s College London have found a common type 2 diabetes drug may help improve clinical outcomes for non-diabetic people with gum disease, as well as help prevent bone loss caused by either periodontal disease or aging, via both mouse and clinical trials.
This study was recently published in the
For this study, Dr. Vitor Neves, academic clinical lecturer, periodontology registrar in the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London, and lead author of this study, and his team focused on using a common type 2 diabetes drug called metformin.
Previous studies have looked at the
This is also not the first study to look at metformin as an ‘anti-aging’ therapy. Research published in August 2019 found there is mounting evidence suggesting the drug offers beneficial effects in
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