The effect of metformin on insulin resistance and exercise parameters in patients with heart failure

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an insulin-resistant state. The degree of insulin resistance (IR) correlates with disease severity and is associated with reduced exercise capacity. In this proof of concept study, we have examined the effect of metformin on IR and exercise capacity in non-diabetic CHF patients identified to have IR. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 62 non-diabetic IR CHF patients (mean age, 65.2 8.0 years; male, 90; left ventricular ejection fraction, 32.6 8.3; New York Heart Association class I/II/III/IV, 11/45/6/0) were randomized to receive either 4 months of metformin (n 39, 2 g/day) or matching placebo (n 23). IR was defined by a fasting insulin resistance index (FIRI) epsilon 2.7. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and FIRI were assessed at baseline and after 4 months of intervention. Compared with placebo, metformin decreased FIRI (from 5.8 3.8 to 4.0 2.5, P 0.001) and resulted in a weight loss of 1.9 kg (P 0.001). The primary endpoint of the study, peak oxygen uptake (VO2), did not differ between treatment groups. However, metformin improved the secondary endpoint of the slope of the ratio of minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO2 slope), from 32.9 15.9 to 28.1 8.8 (P 0.034). In the metformin-treated group, FIRI was significantly related to the reduction of the VE/VCO2 slope (R 0.41, P 0.036). Metformin treatment significantly improved IR but had no effect on peak VO2, the primary endpoint of our study. However, metformin treatment did result in a significant improvement in VE/VCO2 slope. Trial registration: NCT00473876.