A Dual Pharmacological Strategy against COVID-19: The Therapeutic Potential of Metformin and Atorvastatin

Abstract

Metformin (MET) and atorvastatin (ATO) are promising treatments for COVID-19. This review explores the potential of MET and ATO, commonly prescribed for diabetes and dyslipidemia, respectively, as versatile medicines against SARS-CoV-2. Due to their immunomodulatory and antiviral capabilities, as well as their cost-effectiveness and ubiquitous availability, they are highly suitable options for treating the virus. MET’s effect extends beyond managing blood sugar, impacting pathways that can potentially decrease the severity and fatality rates linked with COVID-19. It can partially block mitochondrial complex I and stimulate AMPK, which indicates that it can be used more widely in managing viral infections. ATO, however, impacts cholesterol metabolism, a crucial element of the viral replicative cycle, and demonstrates anti-inflammatory characteristics that could modulate intense immune reactions in individuals with COVID-19. Retrospective investigations and clinical trials show decreased hospitalizations, severity, and mortality rates in patients receiving these medications. Nevertheless, the journey from observing something to applying it in a therapeutic setting is intricate, and the inherent diversity of the data necessitates carefully executed, forward-looking clinical trials. This review highlights the requirement for efficacious, easily obtainable, and secure COVID-19 therapeutics and identifies MET and ATO as promising treatments in this worldwide health emergency.

Acute Kidney Injury in the Context of COVID-19: An Analysis in Hospitalized Mexican Patients

“…The consumption of statins has been mainly associated with the depletion of intracellular lipids, which can affect different viral stages of both SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, such as viral entry and replication [ 57 ]. One of its effects may be the destabilization of lipid rafts, where viral receptors are anchored, and the decrease in lipids in the endoplasmic reticulum that allows the formation of new viral particles [ 58 ].…”

Association between lipid profile and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients

“…Furthermore, patients with low levels of LDL-c, total cholesterol, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies had the highest mortality rates 56 . Thus, lipid profile, emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the immune response in COVID-19 vaccine recipients (neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2) could be strongly related with COVID-19 mortality through a pathophysiological mechanism where the statin therapy would improve the chances of survival 57 .…”