title: Effects of metformin treatment on whole-body and splanchnic amino acid turnover in mild type 2 diabetes.
abstract: The effects of metformin therapy on whole body and splanchnic amino acid turnover are not known. Therefore, we have studied fasting and postprandial phenylalanine kinetics in type 2 diabetic subjects (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), previously treated with diet only, both before and after 4 weeks of either metformin (850 mg twice a day) (n = 11) or placebo administration (n = 6). Phenylalanine kinetic was evaluated by means of a multiple isotope technique: tritiated phenylalanine was infused i.v., whereas carbon-labeled phenylalanine was incorporated into a chemically-defined meal. Compared with placebo, metformin administration decreased both fasting (from 162 +/- 17 to 141 +/- 20 mg/dl) and postprandial (from 217 +/- 20 to 164 +/- 20 mg/dl) glucose concentrations (P < 0.05-P < 0.01). Fasting insulin concentrations were unaffected, but postmeal insulin tended to be lower (P < 0.06) after metformin. Compared with the pretreatment period, metformin administration did not change total phenylalanine rate of appearance (fasted state, 0.74 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.71 +/- 0.08 mumol/kg.min; fed state, 0.77 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.75 +/- 0.08 mumol/kg.min, respectively), dietary and endogenous phenylalanine rate of appearance, dietary phenylalanine oxidation, and splanchnic uptake, similar to what was observed in the placebo group. Our data indicate that, at least after a 4-week treatment, metformin does not affect fasting and postprandial protein turnover, as indicated by phenylalanine data, in subjects with mild non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolism, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tessari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biolo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruttomesso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inchiostro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panebianco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vedovato
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fongher
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiengo
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D010919:Placebos; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D010919:Placebos; D011506:Proteins; D014316:Tritium; D010649:Phenylalanine; D005934:Glucagon; D008687:Metformin