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Many foods you used to like (e.g., sweets) will be nauseating. Other foods remain delicious. For example, eggs and cheese and meat. But basically, your intere

Many foods you used to like (e.g., sweets) will be nauseating. Other foods remain delicious. For example, eggs and cheese and meat. But basically, your interest in food will be drastically reduced, and you will eat just enough. This is an important part of metformin's beneficial effect on lifespan and health.

TylerE 4y ago
Admittedly, I’m on a fairly low dose (500mg x 2), but I can still kill a bag of Haribo when the mood hits. It doesn’t , quite as often, but I’ve noticed no changes in flavor.
- bugfix-66 4y ago
  Thanks for the anecdote. Biological variation, we're all different!
dwaite 4y ago
Can you point to any studies around this? I've never heard of this effect (let alone experienced it). I do know that Diabetes itself can reduce the efficiency of taste receptors, and metformin will sometimes cause people to have a metallic taste in their mouth (due to metformin in produced saliva)
- bugfix-66 4y ago
  It's easy to find studies connecting metformin to weight loss and loss of appetite. I'll leave that to you, just use Google and you'll be swamped with evidence. You say you've never heard of metformin affecting food palatability and taste? Did you search the web at all? Just use Google if you want anecdotal examples. For example: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/loss-of-appetite-on-metformin.97468/ https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/loss-of-appetit... I joined as after 18 months on metformin, my appetite and enjoyment of food is constantly declining. I’ve lost about 10 kg over that time, which is not a problem. But I’ve lost my appetite and, as a keen cook and someone who has always enjoyed good food, I no longer look forward to meals and get little pleasure from food. or https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/anyone-experience-loss-of-appetite-with-metformin.86526/ https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/anyone-experience-l... Metformin changed the taste of food slowly during the time I took it. It finally got to the point where all vegetables tasted like burnt plastic. This meant that I didn't want to eat them. And so on. Now you've heard of it! All it took was a web search.

TylerE 4y ago

Admittedly, I’m on a fairly low dose (500mg x 2), but I can still kill a bag of Haribo when the mood hits. It doesn’t , quite as often, but I’ve noticed no changes in flavor.

bugfix-66 4y ago
Thanks for the anecdote. Biological variation, we're all different!

dwaite 4y ago

Can you point to any studies around this? I've never heard of this effect (let alone experienced it). I do know that Diabetes itself can reduce the efficiency of taste receptors, and metformin will sometimes cause people to have a metallic taste in their mouth (due to metformin in produced saliva)

bugfix-66 4y ago
It's easy to find studies connecting metformin to weight loss and loss of appetite. I'll leave that to you, just use Google and you'll be swamped with evidence. You say you've never heard of metformin affecting food palatability and taste? Did you search the web at all? Just use Google if you want anecdotal examples. For example: https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/loss-of-appetite-on-metformin.97468/ https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/loss-of-appetit... I joined as after 18 months on metformin, my appetite and enjoyment of food is constantly declining. I’ve lost about 10 kg over that time, which is not a problem. But I’ve lost my appetite and, as a keen cook and someone who has always enjoyed good food, I no longer look forward to meals and get little pleasure from food. or https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/anyone-experience-loss-of-appetite-with-metformin.86526/ https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/anyone-experience-l... Metformin changed the taste of food slowly during the time I took it. It finally got to the point where all vegetables tasted like burnt plastic. This meant that I didn't want to eat them. And so on. Now you've heard of it! All it took was a web search.