ArticleMolecular metabolism2017
Metformin causes a futile intestinal-hepatic cycle which increases energy expenditure and slows down development of a type 2 diabetes-like state.
Article in Molecular metabolism, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 37 citations in OpenAlex.
- Maternal metformin treatment in obese pregnant dams normalizes neonatal sensory-motor reflexes.Molecular and cellular pediatrics · 2026Article
- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist-based regimens compared with metformin-based regimens for preventing cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2026Article
- The coordinated actions of metformin in the intestine and liver improves hyperglycemia.Cell reports · 2026Article
- A nutrient-responsive AMPK/TBK1 circuit restricts adipocyte catabolism.JCI insight · 2026Article
- New Perspectives on the Molecular Action of Metformin in the Context of Cellular Transduction and Adipogenesis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- The Gut Microbiota-Related Antihyperglycemic Effect of Metformin.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Metformin and the Liver: Unlocking the Full Therapeutic Potential.Metabolites · 2024Review
- Biguanides and glucagon like peptide 1 receptor agonists in the amelioration of post liver transplant weight gain; a scoping review of the mechanism of action, safety and efficacy.Gastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench · 2024Article
- Understanding the action mechanisms of metformin in the gastrointestinal tract.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Review
- Metformin reduces insulin resistance and attenuates progressive renal injury in prepubertal obese Dahl salt-sensitive rats.American journal of physiology. Renal physiology · 2023Article
- Metformin: update on mechanisms of action and repurposing potential.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2023Review
- Combined Effects of Lycopene and Metformin on Decreasing Oxidative Stress by Triggering Endogenous Antioxidant Defenses in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Metformin can mitigate skeletal dysplasia caused by Pck2 deficiency.International journal of oral science · 2022Article
- Metabolic Action of Metformin.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Metformin Prevents Key Mechanisms of Obesity-Related Complications in Visceral White Adipose Tissue of Obese Pregnant Mice.Nutrients · 2022Article
- Prescription drugs and mitochondrial metabolism.Bioscience reports · 2022Review
- Metformin action in the gut-insight provided by [Diabetology international · 2022Article
- Metformin effectively restores the HPA axis function in diet-induced obese rats.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2021Article
- Inhibition of mitochondrial function by metformin increases glucose uptake, glycolysis and GDF-15 release from intestinal cells.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- Grape Polyphenols Attenuate Diet-Induced Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis in Mice in Association With Reduced Butyrate and Increased Markers of Intestinal Carbohydrate Oxidation.Frontiers in nutrition · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveMetformin, the first line drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes, suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis and reduces body weight in patients, the latter by an unknown mechanism.
methodsMice on a high fat diet were continuously fed metformin in a therapeutically relevant dose, mimicking a retarded formulation.
resultsFeeding metformin in pharmacologically relevant doses to mice on a high fat diet normalized HbA1c levels and ameliorated glucose tolerance, as expected, but also considerably slowed down weight gain. This was due to increased energy expenditure, since food intake was unchanged and locomotor activity was even decreased. Metformin caused lactate accumulation in the intestinal wall and in portal venous blood but not in peripheral blood or the liver. Increased conversion of glucose-1-
conclusionsThe reported glucose-lactate-glucose cycle is a highly energy consuming process, explaining the beneficial effects of metformin given continuously on the development of a type 2 diabetic-like state in our mice.
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