How taking metformin during pregnancy might affect a baby's growth and long-term health
Metformin in Pregnancy: Fetal Consequences & Long-term offspring Outcomes in a NHP model
This work looks at whether taking metformin before and during pregnancy changes a baby's birth size and later chances of obesity and insulin resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167802 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a non-human primate model to mimic human pregnancy and follow offspring into early adolescence. Pregnant animals will be assigned to groups with or without maternal metformin exposure from before pregnancy through lactation, and maternal diets will be controlled to model typical Western-style nutrition. Scientists will measure birth weight, early growth patterns, and metabolic markers of obesity and insulin resistance as the offspring develop. The project is set up as a three-armed mechanistic comparison to understand how metformin exposure interacts with maternal diet to influence long-term metabolic risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant or planning pregnancy and are taking metformin for diabetes, PCOS, or weight-related reasons would find these results most relevant.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, not planning pregnancy, or who have never taken metformin are unlikely to get direct benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If findings show clear effects, this could help doctors give safer guidance about metformin use around pregnancy to protect children's long-term metabolic health.
How similar studies have performed: Some human follow-ups and animal studies have suggested prenatal metformin can affect offspring weight and metabolism, but results have been mixed and long-term outcomes remain unclear.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kievit, Paul — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Kievit, Paul
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.