Sex differences in the risk of metformin-associated gastrointestinal adverse events: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Pooled result · Metformin-associated GIAEsResult — go to the resultOdds ratio 1.85 95% CI 1.58–2.17Authors' conclusion
Females may have a higher risk of metformin-associated GIAEs than males
Study context
- Population
- Patients treated with metformin in studies reporting metformin-associated gastrointestinal adverse events separately in females and males; Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and CENTRAL from inception to June 2026
- Participants
- 7,968 patients7 studies
- Comparison
- Females vs males
- Femalesn = 3,106
- Malesn = 4,862reference
- Outcome
- Metformin-associated gastrointestinal adverse events (GIAEs)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects meta-analysis, Risk of bias assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (observational studies) and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (randomised trials)
- Random-effects meta-analysis
- Risk of bias assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (observational studies) and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (randomised trials)
Pooled result
Metformin-associated GIAEs
Odds ratio
1.85
95% CI 1.58–2.17
Femalesvs Males
OR 1.85 (95% CI 1.58–2.17)
As reported in the abstract
Original publication
Sex differences in the risk of metformin-associated gastrointestinal adverse events: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 6 September 2026. doi:10.
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