Drug & supplement interaction

Paleo Diet + Metformin

Metformin brand names: Glucophage, Metformin.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Paleo Diet and Metformin in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Paleo Diet and Metformin

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Metformin and Paleo Diet in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — research on Paleo Diet alongside specific medications may be limited.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Paleo Diet at all — not against Metformin, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

Paleo Diet is an eating pattern rather than something you take. Ask your pharmacist or doctor before changing how you eat while on a prescribed medicine: some medicines are dosed around meals, and a change in diet can change how they work. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Paleo Diet safety at a glance

Paleo Diet overall Use caution Generally safe for healthy adults short-term, but it can be restrictive and may miss some nutrients.
Pregnancy Use caution May lack calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients important in pregnancy, so get medical guidance first.
Breastfeeding Use caution Nutrient needs are high while nursing, so check with your doctor or dietitian before following a restrictive plan.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Metformin and Paleo Diet? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Paleo Diet Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Metformin. It is the side-effect record for Paleo Diet on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Paleo Diet, this list is the first place to look.

  • Weight loss Additional detail

    “In one case report, a breastfeeding woman reported to the emergency room with ketoacidosis after starting to follow the paleo diet. The ketoacidosis was attributed to the weight loss and carbohydrate deficit created by the diet in conjunction with the increased energy demands during lactation.”

    Paleo Diet · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in lactation.

    1 source cited
    1. 98133. Diamond, Evan, MD; Tibaldi, Joseph, MD. A case of ketoacidosis in a breastfeeding patient on the paleo diet. Endocrine Practice, suppl. Supplement 2; Jacksonville Vol. 22: 177.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Paleo Diet — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Metformin’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Metformin column appears here.

Overlapping uses

What Metformin Is Prescribed For, and What Paleo Diet Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Metformin is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Paleo Diet is an eating pattern: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Metformin is prescribed for: Metformin is used to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is always used together with diet and exercise, not instead of them. Metformin hydrochloride tablets and oral solution are approved for adults and children 10 years and older. Metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets — including brands such as Fortamet, Glumetza, and Metformin Hydrochloride Extended Release — are approved for adults only.

Paleo Diet has been studied for:

  • Diabetes studied, not established Paleo Diet has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Paleo Diet for diabetes

    A meta-analysis of four small clinical trials shows that following the paleo diet for up to 12 weeks does not seem to improve plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, or insulin resistance when compared with other healthy diets. However, there are significant limitations with this analysis. Only two of the studies lasted longer than 3 weeks, and the comparator diets varied across studies.

    3 sources cited
    1. 104152. Jamka M, Kulczynski B, Juruc A, Gramza-Michalowska A, Stokes CS, Walkowiak J. The effect of the paleolithic diet vs. healthy diets on glucose and insulin homeostasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Med 2020;9 PubMed
    2. 28421. Lindeberg, S., Jonsson, T., Granfeldt, Y., Borgstrand, E., Soffman, J., Sjostrom, K., and Ahren, B. A Palaeolithic diet improves glucose tolerance more than a Mediterranean-like diet in individuals with ischaemic heart disease. Diabetologia 2007;50(9):179 PubMed
    3. 28420. Jonsson, T., Granfeldt, Y., Ahren, B., Branell, U. C., Palsson, G., Hansson, A., Soderstrom, M., and Lindeberg, S. Beneficial effects of a Paleolithic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes: a randomized cross-over pilot study. Cardiovasc

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Metformin on your own; if you are taking Paleo Diet for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Paleo Diet or Metformin

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Paleo Diet or Metformin, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Metformin

This page covers Paleo Diet only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Metformin page lists 258 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Acai (moderate), African Wild Potato (moderate) and Agaricus Mushroom (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 217 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Metformin page

“Siberian cocklebur is the ingredient I most want anyone taking metformin (Glucophage) to know about. It has caused severe low blood sugar in people, documented in humans, and it should not be combined with any glucose-lowering medication.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Metformin interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Paleo Diet and Metformin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Paleo Diet
Steady interest

#984 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Metformin
Top 1%

#29 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Paleo Diet reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Paleo Diet and Metformin records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Eating pattern

About Paleo Diet

What is Paleo Diet?

  • Weight loss
  • Better blood sugar control
  • Heart health
  • Reducing processed-food intake
  • General wellness and energy

The Paleo diet is an eating pattern based on whole, minimally processed foods thought to resemble what early humans ate, while avoiding grains, legumes, dairy, and added sugar. Short-term studies suggest it may help with weight loss and some heart and blood-sugar markers, but long-term safety and benefits are not well proven. Talk with your doctor or a dietitian before making big diet changes, especially if you have a health condition.

Whole-food eating pattern (meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Paleo Diet is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Paleo Diet record says about it on its own.

Paleo Diet: dosing

Because the Paleo diet is an eating pattern and not a supplement, there is no standard "dose." Instead, it is defined by which foods are included or avoided.If you want to try it, focus on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds, and limit processed foods and added sugar. Many people do not need to follow every strict rule to gain benefit from eating fewer processed foods.It is a good idea to work with a doctor or registered dietitian, who can help you plan balanced meals and decide whether a supplement (such as calcium or vitamin D) might be needed.

From our Paleo Diet monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Paleo Diet monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Metformin

What Is Metformin Used For?

Brand names: Glucophage, Metformin

Metformin is used to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is always used together with diet and exercise, not instead of them.

Metformin hydrochloride tablets and oral solution are approved for adults and children 10 years and older. Metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets — including brands such as Fortamet, Glumetza, and Metformin Hydrochloride Extended Release — are approved for adults only.

See full Metformin drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Paleo Diet

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Paleo Diet — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Paleo Diet against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Paleo Diet list.

See the full Paleo Diet interactions page
See every supplement checked against Metformin, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Paleo Diet References

The 14 references that drive our Paleo Diet monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Jonsson, T., Granfeldt, Y., Ahren, B., Branell, U. C., Palsson, G., Hansson, A., Soderstrom, M., and Lindeberg, S. Beneficial effects of a Paleolithic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes: a randomized cross-over pilot study. Cardiovasc
  2. Lindeberg, S., Jonsson, T., Granfeldt, Y., Borgstrand, E., Soffman, J., Sjostrom, K., and Ahren, B. A Palaeolithic diet improves glucose tolerance more than a Mediterranean-like diet in individuals with ischaemic heart disease. Diabetologia 2007;50(9):179 PubMed
  3. Baumgartner, S., Imfeld, T., Schicht, O., Rath, C., Persson, R. E., and Persson, G. R. The impact of the stone age diet on gingival conditions in the absence of oral hygiene. J Periodontol 2009;80(5):759-768. PubMed
  4. Osterdahl, M., Kocturk, T., Koochek, A., and Wandell, P. E. Effects of a short-term intervention with a paleolithic diet in healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Nutr 2008;62(5):682-685. PubMed
  5. Ryberg, M., Sandberg, S., Mellberg, C., Stegle, O., Lindahl, B., Larsson, C., Hauksson, J., and Olsson, T. A Palaeolithic-type diet causes strong tissue-specific effects on ectopic fat deposition in obese postmenopausal women. J Intern Med 2013;274(1):67- PubMed
  6. Diamond, Evan, MD; Tibaldi, Joseph, MD. A case of ketoacidosis in a breastfeeding patient on the paleo diet. Endocrine Practice, suppl. Supplement 2; Jacksonville Vol. 22: 177.
  7. Fenton TR, Fenton CJ. Paleo diet still lacks evidence. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;104(3):844. PubMed
  8. Manheimer EW, van Zuuren EJ, Fedorowicz Z, Pijl H. Paleolithic nutrition for metabolic syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;102(4):922-32. PubMed
  9. Pastore RL, Brooks JT, Carbone JW. Paleolithic nutrition improves plasma lipid concentrations of hypercholesterolemic adults to a greater extent than traditional heart-healthy dietary recommendations. Nutr Res. 2015;35(6):474-9. PubMed
  10. Mellberg C, Sandberg S, Ryberg M, et al. Long-term effects of a Palaeolithic-type diet in obese postmenopausal women: a 2-year randomized trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014;68(3):350-7. PubMed
  11. Jamka M, Kulczynski B, Juruc A, Gramza-Michalowska A, Stokes CS, Walkowiak J. The effect of the paleolithic diet vs. healthy diets on glucose and insulin homeostasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Med 2020;9 PubMed
  12. Lee JE, Titcomb TJ, Bisht B, Rubenstein LM, Louison R, Wahls TL. A modified MCT-based ketogenic diet increases plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate but has less effect on fatigue and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis compared to a modified paleolithic
  13. Ghaedi E, Mohammadi M, Mohammadi H, et al. Effects of a paleolithic diet on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [published correction appears in Adv Nutr 2020 Jul 1;11(4):1054]. Adv Nu PubMed
  14. Sohouli MH, Fatahi S, Lari A, et al. The effect of paleolithic diet on glucose metabolism and lipid profile among patients with metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2021;1-12. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Following Paleo Diet While Taking Metformin: Common Questions

Is it safe to follow Paleo Diet while taking Metformin?
We do not list a known interaction between Paleo Diet and Metformin. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Paleo Diet and Metformin used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Paleo Diet in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Metformin is being adjusted to a target.
Does Metformin interact with any supplements?
Yes. Metformin has documented interactions with 258 supplements in our database — Paleo Diet is not one of them. The Metformin interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Paleo Diet monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Metformin drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Metformin supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Metformin, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 14 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Metformin and Paleo Diet?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.