Metformin,but not pioglitazone,decreases postchallenge plasma ghrelin levels in type 2 diabetic patients: a possible role in weight stability?

Aim: Effects of metformin and pioglitazone on body weight are clearly different. Recently, the role of ghrelin, an orexigenic peptide derived from stomach, has been appreciated. Plasma ghrelin levels display a preprandial peak and postprandial suppression, suggesting its physiological role. We hypothesized that metformin or pioglitazone may modulate circulating ghrelin levels and this modulation may be related to differential effects on body weight with these agents. Methods: Thirty‐five Japanese type 2 diabetic patients [21 men and 14 women, age 62 ± 2 years, body mass index (BMI) 26.6 ± 0.5 kg/m² and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 8.2 ± 0.1%, mean ± s.e.] were randomly assigned to groups for the addition of metformin or pioglitazone. At baseline and 4 months later, a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to measure plasma ghrelin levels. Results: In 33 subjects who completed the study, the overall decrease in HbA1c (～1%) was comparable between the two groups. As expected, BMI increased in the pioglitazone group but not in the metformin group. After the treatment, plasma ghrelin levels at each point of OGTT remained unchanged in the pioglitazone group. In the metformin group, fasting ghrelin levels were unaltered, whereas the absolute levels at 30, 60 and 120 min decreased significantly. The area under the curve for the 2‐h ghrelin profile also decreased significantly. Conclusions: Metformin, but not pioglitazone, decreased plasma ghrelin levels after the glucose load. This decrease may in part account for weight stability in type 2 diabetic patients treated with metformin.     

Alteration of bile acid metabolism and vitamin-B12-absorption in diabetics on biguanides

Summary Since vitamin B₁₂malabsorption has been described in diabetics on biguanides and inhibition of bile acid absorption found in rat ileum the effect of treatment with different biguanides (phenformin, buformin, metformin) on bile acid metabolism and vitamin B₁₂ absorption was assessed in maturity onset diabetics. Biguanides did not alter faecal weight or faecal fat excretion, but they decreased faecal bile acid excretion. All biguanides tested increased deconjugation of glycocholic acid, as determined by a simple breath test technique. Vitamin B₁₂ malabsorption was most prominent in patients on metformin. Discontinuation of biguanide treatment, or administration of antibiotics, normalized or improved the increased deconjugation of bile acids and the Schilling test. Decreased faecal bile acid excretion, positive¹⁴C-glycocholate breath tests, pathological Schilling tests and the reversal of pathological tests by antibiotic treatment suggest that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, leading to binding of the intrinsic-factor-vitamin B₁₂-complex to bacteria, is responsible for the previously observed pathological Schilling tests in diabetics on biguanides. Bile acid malabsorption, possibly responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effect of biguanides, does not occur in diabetics on biguanides. Whether qualitative changes in small intestinal bile acid composition might affect cholesterol metabolism remains to be determined.Presented at the 11th Meeting of the German Diabetes-Society, Braunlage, May 1976     

Efficacy, dose-response relationship and safety of once-daily extended-release metformin (Glucophage XR) in type 2 diabetic patients with inadequate glycaemic control despite prior treatment with diet and exercise: results from two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies

AIM: The efficacy, dose-response relationships and safety of an extended-release formulation of metformin (Glucophage) XR) were evaluated in two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies of 24 and 16 weeks' duration, in patients with inadequate glycaemic control despite diet and exercise. Protocol 1 provided an evaluation of metformin XR at a commonly used dosage. Protocol 2 evaluated different dosages of metformin XR. METHODS: In Protocol 1, 240 patients were randomized to receive metformin XR 1000 mg once daily. or placebo in a 2:1 ratio for 12 weeks (patients could receive metformin XR 1500 mg during weeks 12-24 if required). In Protocol 2, 742 patients were randomized to receive metformin XR 500 mg once daily, 1000 mg once daily, 1500 mg once daily, 2000 mg once daily, 1000 mg twice daily or placebo for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint in each study was the change from baseline in HbA(1C) at 12 weeks (Protocol 1) or 16 weeks (Protocol 2). RESULTS: Metformin XR reduced HbA(1C) in Protocol 1, with mean treatment differences for 1000 mg once daily vs. placebo of -0.7% at 12 weeks and -0.8% at 24 weeks (p < 0.001 for each). In Protocol 2, a clear dose-response relationship was evident at doses up to 1500 mg, with treatment differences vs. placebo of -0.6% (500 mg once daily), -0.7% (1000 mg once daily), -1.0% (1500 mg once daily) and -1.0% (2000 mg once daily). The efficacy of metformin XR 2000 mg once daily and 1000 mg twice daily were similar (mean treatment differences vs. placebo in HbA(1C) were -1.0% and -1.2%, respectively). More patients achieved HbA(1C) < 7.0% with metformin XR vs. placebo in Protocol 1 (29% vs. 14% at 12 weeks) and with once-daily metformin XR in Protocol 2 (up to 36% vs. 10% at 16 weeks). No significant changes in fasting insulin or body weight occurred. Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol improved (p < 0.05-p < 0.001) in metformin XR groups in Protocol 2. Metformin XR was well tolerated; gastrointestinal side effects were more common with metformin XR vs. placebo, but few patients withdrew for this reason (1.3% vs. 1.3% in Protocol 1 and 1.6% vs. 0.9% in Protocol 2). CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily metformin XR presents an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for delivering metformin in a convenient manner, which supports good compliance with therapy.     

Heart failure and diabetes mellitus: epidemiology and management of an alarming association

Diabetes mellitus is a growing epidemic with a prevalence among patients with heart failure (HF) approaching 30%. Diabetes worsens the prognosis of HF, and the pathophysiology is complex and multifactorial. Early detection of subtle alterations in cardiac function by modern tools, such as Doppler echocardiography or brain natriuretic peptide dosage, is thus important in these patients. All drugs known to be effective in HF with systolic dysfunction are also effective in patients with diabetes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists also seem particularly useful. Overall, however, little is known about the treatment of diabetic patients with HF, especially in case of preserved systolic function. Ongoing and future trials should help to determine the best treatment for these patients with or without associated diabetes. This review assesses the relationships between diabetes mellitus and HF and discusses the various medical strategies.     

二甲双胍刺激肝脏瘦素受体基因表达上调血浆可溶性瘦素受体水平

目的 探讨二甲双胍上调血浆可溶性瘦素受体(soluble leptin receptor,sOB-R)的可能机制.方法 42只6～8周龄健康雄性C57BL/6小鼠,按随机数字表法分为正常饮食(CD)组(n=21)及高脂饮食(HF)组(n=21).喂养5月后,CD组及HF组分别再随机分为3个亚组,每组7只,分别予蒸馏水(不用药对照组),二甲双胍50、200 mg/(kg·d)灌胃,灌胃15 d后取其血浆及肝、肾组织.ELISA法检测小鼠血浆可溶性瘦素受体(soluble leptin receptor,sOB-R)水平,Real-time PCR检测肝、肾脏组织中瘦素受体基因(OB-Rt、OB-Ra、OB-Rb、OB-Rc、OB-Rd)及解聚素样金属蛋白酶10(a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10,ADAM10)、ADAM17基因的表达,Western blot检测肝、肾脏组织中ADAM10、ADAM17蛋白的表达.结果 与不用药对照组比较,给予不同剂量的二甲双胍后均能升高CD组和HF组小鼠血浆sOB-R,CD组中二甲双胍200 mg/(kg·d)组与其他2组比较,HF组中二甲双胍50、200 mg/(kg·d)组与不用药对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P ＜0.05,P＜0.01);sOB-R水平升高具有二甲双胍剂量依赖性效应.二甲双胍能上调肝脏瘦素受体基因OB-Rt mRNA的表达,并呈剂量依赖性升高,HF组瘦素受体上升更为明显;瘦素受体亚型OB-Ra、OB-Rc、OB-Rd的上升趋势与OB-Rt趋势一致.肾脏组织中,瘦素受体基因OB-Rt、OB-Ra、OB-Rb、OB-Rc、OB-Rd的表达水平在二甲双胍用药组及不用药对照组相比没有显著变化,CD组与HF组之间也没有显著差异.肝脏和肾脏组织中ADAM10、ADAM17表达量在CD组与HF组、二甲双胍用药组及不用药对照组之间均无显著改变.结论 二甲双胍能显著上调血浆sOB-R水平,该作用主要是通过刺激肝脏瘦素受体基因表达实现的,最主要的来源是肝脏的短型瘦素受体.     

Metformin increases insulin sensitivity and basal glucose clearance in Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus

Abstract The effects of metformin on glycaemia, insulin and c-peptide levels, hepatic glucose production and insulin sensitivity (using the euglycaemic, hyperinsulinaemic clamp) were evaluated at fortnightly intervals in 9 Type 2 diabetic patients using a stepwise dosing protocol: Stage 1 - no metformin for four weeks; stage 2 - metformin 500mg mane; stage 3 - metformin 500mg thrice daily; stage 4 – metformin 1000mg thrice daily. Results are expressed as Mean ± SEM. Fasting blood glucose decreased from basal values (9.7 ±1.0 mmol/L) by 13% at stage 2, 34% at stage 3 and 41% at stage 4 (p<0.02 vs basal for all stages; p<0.02 stage 2 vs stage 3). Post-prandial glycaemia was significantly improved only with metformin 3000mg/day (p<0.05). Fasting, meal-stimulated and total insulin and c-peptide levels showed no change. Hepatic glucose output did not change significantly with metformin. Insulin sensitivity, measured as total glucose utilisation during hyperinsulinaemia, increased from stage 1 (10.3 ± 2.1 μmoL/kg/min) by 23% at stage 3 (p < 0.05) and by 29% at stage 4 (p < 0.02). Basal metabolic clearance of glucose increased compared to stage 1 (1.69 ±0.16 mL/kg/min) by 30% at stage 2, 53% at stage 3 and 44% at stage 4 (all p <0.02). This study demonstrates that improved efficiency of glucose utilisation, both basally and under conditions of euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia, is the basis of metformin's antihyperglycaemic action.     

High Recovery of Functional Islets Stored at Low and Ultralow Temperatures

BACKGROUND: Poor recovery of islets upon cryopreservation is the main hurdle in islet banking. Pancreatic islets have a poor antioxidative defense mechanism, and exposure of islets to low temperature leads to oxidative stress. AIM: We aimed to investigate whether known compounds such as metformin, γ aminobutyric acid (GABA), docosahexanoic acid (DHA), or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) alone or in combination are capable of reducing oxidative stress for better islet recovery upon storage at suboptimal temperatures. METHODS: Islets isolated from mouse pancreas were stored at low temperature (4°C) for 15 days and at ultralow temperature (-196°C) for 30 days with or without additives. After revival from cold storage, islets were assessed by using three methods: (1) specificity by dithizone (DTZ), (2) viability by fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide (FDA/PI) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) assay, and (3) functionality by glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). The oxidative status of the islets stored at suboptimal temperatures was determined by both intracellular free radical release (fluorometric analysis) and lipid peroxidation (enzymatic determination). RESULTS: Supplementation with additives led to an improvement in islet survival upon storage at suboptimal temperatures, without depletion of insulin secretory activity, which was comparable to that of controls. The additives acted as cryoprotectants and antioxidants as revealed by high recovery of viable islets and reduction in total reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malonidealdehyde (MDA), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate for the first time that supplementation with EPA, DHA, and metformin may lead to higher islet recovery from -196°C storage, enabling proper islet banking.     

Combination therapy of dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors and metformin in type 2 diabetes: rationale and evidence

The main pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) includes insulin resistance and pancreatic islet dysfunction. Metformin, which attenuates insulin resistance, has been recommended as the first‐line antidiabetic medication. Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors are novel oral hypoglycaemic agents that protect glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) from degradation, maintain the bioactivity of endogenous GLP‐1, and thus improve islet dysfunction. Results from clinical trials have shown that the combination therapy of DPP‐4 inhibitors and metformin [as an add‐on, an initial combination or a fixed‐dose combination (FDC)] provides excellent efficacy and safety in patients with T2DM. Moreover, recent studies have suggested that metformin enhances the biological effect of GLP‐1 by increasing GLP‐1 secretion, suppressing activity of DPP‐4 and upregulating the expression of GLP‐1 receptor in pancreatic β‐cells. Conversely, DPP‐4 inhibitors have a favourable effect on insulin sensitivity in patients with T2DM. Therefore, the combination of DPP‐4 inhibitors and metformin provides an additive or even synergistic effect on metabolic control in patients with T2DM. This article provides an overview of clinical evidence and discusses the rationale for the combination therapy of DPP‐4 inhibitors and metformin.