title: Serum metformin levels in Nigerians with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: 'Steady state' serum concentrations of metformin have been measured in sixteen Nigerians with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. There was a thirty-eight-fold variation in the serum levels (50-1886 ng/ml). The mean serum level of metformin was 512 +/- 485.2 ng/ml. This compared favourably with the mean levels (382.3 +/- 76.9 ng/ml) obtained in a similar study in Italians. The observed levels however fell far short of those expected in patients on 1-5 g metformin daily. The role of poor bioavailability vis-à-vis poor patient compliance deserves further detailed pharmacokinetic study.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria
chemical_list: D008687:Metformin