Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical Perspectives
Aim of the study: This study synthesizes current preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the role of metformin as a potential therapeutic option in psoriasis, examining its mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety profile, impact on the common comorbidity of metabolic syndrome, as well as evaluat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Quality in Sport |
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| Online Access: | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61344 |
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| author | Kinga Kozłowska Anna Ewelina Francuziak Piotr Mikołaj Dembicki Tomasz Karol Książek Aleksandra Szeliga Maciej Borowski Natalia Dzieszko Michał Szczepański Weronika Kalinowska Paulina Sara Kulasza |
| author_facet | Kinga Kozłowska Anna Ewelina Francuziak Piotr Mikołaj Dembicki Tomasz Karol Książek Aleksandra Szeliga Maciej Borowski Natalia Dzieszko Michał Szczepański Weronika Kalinowska Paulina Sara Kulasza |
| author_sort | Kinga Kozłowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Aim of the study: This study synthesizes current preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the role of metformin as a potential therapeutic option in psoriasis, examining its mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety profile, impact on the common comorbidity of metabolic syndrome, as well as evaluating future directions for studies.
Material and methods: A literature review was conducted using the databases PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect up to April 2025 with keywords “metformin” AND “psoriasis”.
Results: Preclinical studies demonstrate that metformin inhibits keratinocyte proliferation, promotes apoptosis, and suppresses key inflammatory mediators such as IL-23, IL-17, and TNF-α, mainly via AMPK activation and mTOR signaling inhibition. Clinically, adjunctive metformin therapy shows promising results in improving psoriasis severity indices, particularly in patients with coexisting metabolic syndrome, although study heterogeneity and dosing variability limit definitive conclusions. Moreover, metformin may improve metabolic parameters in psoriasis patients, potentially enhancing overall treatment outcomes. Safety data indicate a favorable profile with minimal adverse effects. Emerging research also suggests the potential application of metformin as a topical treatment.
Conclusions: Metformin is a promising candidate to be implemented as part of the therapy targeting not only dermatological symptoms, but also comorbid metabolic disorders in psoriasis, which may contribute to more comprehensive and effective patient care. Despite encouraging findings, further randomized controlled trials are warranted to clarify optimal dosing, long-term efficacy, and mechanistic pathways.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d66a75d6b2ee4f449400cb3eaeba91ef |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2450-3118 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quality in Sport |
| spelling | doaj-art-d66a75d6b2ee4f449400cb3eaeba91ef2025-07-11T07:28:41ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-07-014310.12775/QS.2025.43.61344Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical PerspectivesKinga Kozłowska0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6541-207XAnna Ewelina Francuziak1https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9810-7758Piotr Mikołaj Dembicki2https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0709-9220Tomasz Karol Książek3https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9852-1434Aleksandra Szeliga4https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1832-5569Maciej Borowski5https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4185-2199Natalia Dzieszko6https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8743-6590Michał Szczepański7https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4828-6709Weronika Kalinowska8https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4630-467XPaulina Sara Kulasza9https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5829-6721Independent Researcher, Provincial Hospital of Podkarpackie John Paul II in Krosno, Korczyńska 57 street, 38-400 Krosno, PolandUniversity Hospital in Krakow, Kopernika 36 street, 31-501 Krakow, PolandLudwik Rydygier Memorial Specialized Hospital, Osiedle Złotej Jesieni 1 street, 31-820 Krakow, PolandUniveristy Clinical Hospital of Bialystok, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 24A street, 15-276 Białystok, PolandMedical Univeristy of Białystok, Jana Kliniśkiego 1 street, 15-089 Białystok, PolandUniveristy Clinical Hospital of Bialystok, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 24A street, 15-276 Białystok, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4185-2199 Jędrzej Śniadecki Regional Hospital in Białystok, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 26 Street, 15-278 Białystok, Poland Jędrzej Śniadecki Regional Hospital in Białystok, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 26 Street, 15-278 Białystok, PolandJędrzej Śniadecki Regional Hospital in Białystok, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 26 Street, 15-278 Białystok, PolandJędrzej Śniadecki Regional Hospital in Białystok, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 26 Street, 15-278 Białystok, Poland Aim of the study: This study synthesizes current preclinical and clinical evidence regarding the role of metformin as a potential therapeutic option in psoriasis, examining its mechanisms of action, efficacy, safety profile, impact on the common comorbidity of metabolic syndrome, as well as evaluating future directions for studies. Material and methods: A literature review was conducted using the databases PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect up to April 2025 with keywords “metformin” AND “psoriasis”. Results: Preclinical studies demonstrate that metformin inhibits keratinocyte proliferation, promotes apoptosis, and suppresses key inflammatory mediators such as IL-23, IL-17, and TNF-α, mainly via AMPK activation and mTOR signaling inhibition. Clinically, adjunctive metformin therapy shows promising results in improving psoriasis severity indices, particularly in patients with coexisting metabolic syndrome, although study heterogeneity and dosing variability limit definitive conclusions. Moreover, metformin may improve metabolic parameters in psoriasis patients, potentially enhancing overall treatment outcomes. Safety data indicate a favorable profile with minimal adverse effects. Emerging research also suggests the potential application of metformin as a topical treatment. Conclusions: Metformin is a promising candidate to be implemented as part of the therapy targeting not only dermatological symptoms, but also comorbid metabolic disorders in psoriasis, which may contribute to more comprehensive and effective patient care. Despite encouraging findings, further randomized controlled trials are warranted to clarify optimal dosing, long-term efficacy, and mechanistic pathways. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61344metformintopical metforminpsoriasispsoriaris treatmentAMPKmetabolic syndrome |
| spellingShingle | Kinga Kozłowska Anna Ewelina Francuziak Piotr Mikołaj Dembicki Tomasz Karol Książek Aleksandra Szeliga Maciej Borowski Natalia Dzieszko Michał Szczepański Weronika Kalinowska Paulina Sara Kulasza Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical Perspectives Quality in Sport metformin topical metformin psoriasis psoriaris treatment AMPK metabolic syndrome |
| title | Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical Perspectives |
| title_full | Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical Perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical Perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical Perspectives |
| title_short | Metformin as a Therapeutic Option in Psoriasis: A Review of Pathophysiological Insights and Clinical Perspectives |
| title_sort | metformin as a therapeutic option in psoriasis a review of pathophysiological insights and clinical perspectives |
| topic | metformin topical metformin psoriasis psoriaris treatment AMPK metabolic syndrome |
| url | https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61344 |
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