ABSTRACT
Aim - to assess the DNA damage of lymphocytes before and after the use of Metformin in obese individuals by two indicators: the diameter and the number of DNA breaks in blood lymphocytes. The sample included 27 obese patients aged 18-61 years. Among the participants, persons with chronic decompensated diseases, with bad habits (smokers, drug users, alcohol) were excluded. In order to study the dynamics of blood lymphocyte DNA breaks, patients were prescribed Metformin (Acino) at a daily dose of 850 mg/day for 3 months. DNA damage analysis was performed by assessing foci of phosphorylated histone protein HAX (γ-H2AX) on blood lymphocytes (AKLIDES, Nuk Human Lymphocyte Complete, Medipan, Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Germany). With the appointment of Metformin, the diameter of the ruptures changed and amounted to 0.45±0.23 before treatment, and 0.44±0.27 after treatment, but no statistically significant differences were found. When evaluating the dynamics, a significant decrease in the indicator was revealed, and it amounted to 2.60% (p<0.0001; z=9.97). Before treatment, the value of the indicator "Mean number of ruptures per 1 cell" was 0.57±1.32, after the appointment of Metformin it decreased to 0.27±0.56, but the differences are insignificant and after treatment, there is a decrease in the indicator by 52.18% (p<0.0001; z=9.97). The use of metformin 850 mg/day for 3 months in obesity leads to a decrease in the diameter of cell ruptures and the average number of γ-H2AX foci per cell of serum lymphocyte DNA, which may affect the reduction in the risk of oncopathology. Further research is needed to determine the protective mechanisms of Metformin against genomic instability, especially in relation to DNA damage reactions and epigenetic changes.