METHODOLOGY
This is a narrative review of the literature performed in the PUBMED and Virtual Health Library databases through the combination of descriptors in health sciences (Table 1). After applying the search and selection criteria, original studies were included, without language and publication time restrictions, dealing with biguanides and their pharmacological effects. Those who did not have a control group were excluded, when the intervention was only in association, when it did not specify the treatment of data, as well as duplicity. The data were extracted: author, year of publication, objectives, method, experimental design, experimental model, follow-up time, intervention, posological scheme, main results and bibliographic references (submitted to the cited criteria). No evaluation by the Research and Ethics Committee was necessary.