If someone asks if they should worry about Metformin’s kidney toxicity, I tell them firmly.
“Cut the bullshit.”
Metformin does not have kidney toxicity.
On the contrary, research on its kidney-protective effects is overflowing.
I have no idea where people pick up such nonsense and come here feeling anxious.
Many so-called “supplement pushers” spout nonsense; they don’t care about scientific evidence, they are just pushers who need to say something different than others to get attention and make money.
Metformin and Lactic Acidosis = Extremely Rare Exception
It is true that Metformin can potentially increase lactate levels and trigger lactic acidosis.
But this is an extremely rare occurrence.
It’s a phenomenon that only occasionally appears in diabetic patients and hardly applies to healthy non-diabetic individuals.
The reason the FDA recommends checking creatinine levels when prescribing Metformin to diabetic patients is because diabetes itself can cause kidney damage, not because Metformin directly destroys the kidneys.
On the contrary, there are countless research reports showing that Metformin has helped improve kidney function in diabetic patients.
You can find out for yourself by just searching “Metformin kidney disease” or “Metformin kidney function” on Google Scholar.
Unfortunately, research on non-diabetic patients is lacking, but if it existed, Metformin’s kidney-protective effects would have been even more clearly demonstrated.
Right now, researchers like Nir Barzilai are working to prove Metformin’s anti-aging effects to get FDA approval.
When that happens, more data will pile up, so just wait.
Don’t fall for the supplement pushers’ nonsense.
The statement that “many supplement pushers claim Metformin is kidney toxic” is truly pathetic.
Those bastards fall into exactly two categories.
1. The Ignorant Supplement Pusher
They have no scientific evidence and just insist they are right based on what they did in the past or who they worked with.
These guys can’t even provide a biochemical explanation for what they’re spouting, let alone any academic evidence.
If you search Wikipedia for “List of pseudoscientific health advocates”, you’ll find plenty of similar con artists.
They are the ones spouting nonsense like curing cancer with a fruit diet or getting healthier just by breathing.
2. The Attention Seeker
If they talk based on academic papers, they’ll look just like everyone else, so they deliberately make claims contrary to popular belief to get attention.
Their income and livelihood are on the line, so they have no choice but to make up unique stories.
Some, like the “armchair chemists,” at least attempt a biochemical explanation, but most are either lazy or lack scientific training to the point they don’t even know how to read a research paper.
If you blindly believe what these guys say, you’ll only ruin your body.
For the armchair chemists, persistently ask them what the scientific evidence is and why they make such claims.
Is it because of lactic acidosis?
Remember that although Metformin is excreted by the kidneys, it does not place a significant burden on them.
A Bodybuilder’s Kidneys: Things More Important Than Metformin
If you’re a bodybuilder interested in bodybuilding, there are far more things you should worry about than Metformin’s kidney toxicity.
People who live long don’t say Metformin is kidney toxic.
The real issues are as follows.
High Muscle Mass
High muscle mass naturally leads to higher creatinine levels.
This does not mean kidney damage.
Blood Pressure
Hypertension, common among bodybuilders, is devastating to the kidneys.
Training intensity, diet, drug use, and many other factors affect blood pressure.
Excessive Caloric Intake
The more you eat, the more strain on your body, and it can also raise blood pressure.
High-Protein Diet
Excessively high protein intake can put a strain on the kidneys.
Overall Lifestyle
The bodybuilder lifestyle itself—high-intensity training, drug use, stress—can strain the kidneys.
These things have a much more direct impact on kidney health than Metformin.
If you are genetically predisposed to kidney issues (probably meaning you have a family history), that’s a very specific problem you need to discuss with a doctor.
It’s not an area for personal advice.
Conclusion
Understand the system and trust the data.
Metformin does not have kidney toxicity worth worrying about.
Don’t be swayed by the supplement pushers’ nonsense; trust the academic papers and scientific evidence.
If you want to protect your kidneys as a bodybuilder, you shouldn’t obsess over something like Metformin, but rather focus on checking and managing your blood pressure, diet, protein intake, and overall lifestyle.
True masters are not shaken by baseless rumors; they understand and adjust the system based on data.
Drugs are just tools; the results depend entirely on how you use them.
References
1. The Role of Metformin in the Prevention of New-Onset Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/95
Look at this paper.
It shows that Metformin prevents the onset of new kidney disease in type 2 diabetic patients and even reduces the risk of kidney events in those who already have good kidney function.
The data is speaking, and the kidney toxicity you’re worried about is bullshit.
2. The Phantom of Lactic Acidosis due to Metformin in Patients with Diabetes
If you read this, you’ll understand how phantom-like Metformin-associated lactic acidosis is.
Despite being used by countless patients for decades, its risk of lactic acidosis is not particularly higher than other drugs.
Please stop fear-mongering based on personal speculation.
