The Impact of Metformin on BNP Levels: A Potential Cardioprotective Role in Type 2 Diabetes

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular complications are the most common cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. Therefore, the aim of antidiabetic therapy should not only be to provide glucose regulation but also to protect patients from com-plications and related mortality. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a peptide secreted as a result of myocardial stress. BNP levels increase in conditions of increased myocar-dial stress, such as heart failure. It is important not only in diagnosis but also in fol-low-up. In our study, we aimed to evaluate BNP level and, thus, the factors affecting the risk of developing heart failure in the course of diabetes mellitus. Methods: This study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences, Haseki Training and Re-search Hospital diabetes outpatient clinic. Two hundred fifty-two patients met the in-clusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Laboratory parameters, including BNP values, comorbidities, and anamnesis data, were recorded. Results: The mean BNP levels were significantly lower in patients using metformin and pioglitazone. Other antidiabetic medications were not associated with BNP levels. BNP levels were posi-tively correlated with age and diabetes duration and negatively correlated with hemo-globin. According to regression analysis, age, metformin use, and hemoglobin were found to independently affect BNP levels. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that metformin could potentially play a significant role in preventing the development of heart failure in diabetic patients without heart failure, owing to its favorable effects on myocardial stress. This suggests metformins potential in preventing heart failure in type 2 diabetic patients.