“This is the first-ever study to examine AMPK’s relation to nicotine dependence,” Kim says.<\/p>\n

Metformin suppresses liver glucose production. With proper dosages, however, the researchers thought it might treat nicotine withdrawal symptoms without throwing blood glucose out of balance.<\/p>\n

The researchers found that nicotine-treated mice given metformin displayed none of the anxiety or other negative effects of withdrawal. Metformin, in fact, completely prevented anxious behaviors caused by nicotine withdrawal at doses that had no effect on body weight, food consumption, or glucose levels.<\/p>\n

Kim says the research suggests that metformin, because of its long-term record of safety and relative lack of side effects, has “real potential” as a smoking cessation aid if clinical trials in humans confirm the findings in mice.<\/p>\n