Abstract
Aims: Metformin has been reported to decrease the plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids in Type 2 diabetic subjects. This study investigated the effects of metformin on basal and catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese, hyperinsulinaemic, hypertensive subjects. Methods: Fourteen subjects with severe obesity (12 female, two male, age 35.4 ± 4 years, body mass index 48.2 ± 2 kg/m2, body fat mass 63.3 ± 5 kg) were recruited. Glycerol and lactate concentrations were determined in the presence of metformin and after administration of catecholamines using microdialysis. Simultaneously, blood flow was assessed with the ethanol escape method. Results: Glycerol release was lowered by metformin during the 3-h experiment (P<0.01). The lipolytic activity of catecholamines was suppressed when adipose tissue was pre-treated with metformin (P<0.001). Lactate concentration increased after application of metformin (P<0.01) and catecholamines (P<0.001). Blood flow was decreased in the presence of adrenaline (P<0.01), but this effect was abolished by metformin. Conclusions: The present data demonstrate the effects of metformin on lipolysis in subcutaneous adipose tissue in vivo. In the large body fat mass of obese subjects, a reduction of lipolysis in adipose tissue may contribute to a decrease of VLDL synthesis in the liver resulting in a lowered plasma triglyceride concentration.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1000-1006 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Diabetic Medicine |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1 1999 |
Keywords
- Adipose tissue
- Catecholamine
- Lipolysis
- Metformin
- Microdialysis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Endocrinology