Metformin revisited: Does this regulator of AMP-activated protein kinase secondarily affect bone metabolism and prevent diabetic osteopathy

Figure 3 Effects of metformin on bone-derived cells. The results of several in vitro studies show that metformin modulates the phenotypic balance of bone marrow stromal cells (MSC) away from adipogenesis and towards osteoblastogenesis. In addition, metformin increases in vitro the bone-forming capacity of osteoblasts, while decreasing the recruitment and bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts. ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; TG: Triglycerides; TRAP: Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase; RANK: Receptor activator for nuclear factor κB; RANKL: RANK ligand.