The efficacy of metformin for the treatment of psoriasis: a meta-analysis study

INTRODUCTION: Metformin has potential in treating patients with psoriasis, and this meta-analysis aims to explore the impact of metformin supplementation on treatment efficacy for psoriasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched, and we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of metformin on treatment efficacy for patients with psoriasis. RESULTS: Three RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control intervention for psoriasis, metformin intervention resulted in significantly increased psoriasis area severity index (PASI) 75% reduction (odds ratio (OR) = 22.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.12 to 228.49; p = 0.01), and erythema, scaling and induration (ESI) 75% reduction (OR = 9.12; 95% CI: 2.13 to 39.02; p = 0.003), and was associated with substantially decreased fasting plasma glucose (FPG, standard mean difference (SMD) = –0.59; 95% CI: –0.92 to –0.26; p = 0.0005), triglycerides (SMD = –0.92; 95% CI: –1.38 to –0.47; p < 0.0001), total cholesterol (SMD = –0.77; 95% CI: –1.22 to –0.32; p = 0.00008), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, SMD = –0.67; 95% CI: –1.12 to –0.23; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Metformin supplementation effectively improves treatment efficacy and metabolic syndrome in psoriasis patients.