Effects of Metformin Monotherapy on Metabolic Parameters in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background: Although metformin is widely used as the foundation therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes, effects of metformin monotherapy on metabolic parameters have not been sufficiently elucidated.

Methods: We retrospectively picked up type 2 diabetic patients who had been treated by the first metformin monotherapy for more than 3 months, at National Center for Global Health and Medicine between January 2015 and October 2018.

Results: Twenty-two patients were eligible. Systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly reduced by the 3-month metformin monotherapy. Further, we divided subjects into two groups with body mass index (BMI) of 25 or ≥ 25, and compared changes in metabolic parameter due to metformin monotherapy between BMI ≥ 25 and BMI < 25 groups. HbA1c and LDL-C were significantly reduced in both groups. Body weight significantly decreased only in BMI ≥ 25 group, and systolic blood pressure, AST and ALT tended to decrease only in BMI ≥ 25 group.

Conclusions: The metformin monotherapy improved glycemic control regardless of the presence or absence of obesity. Interestingly, metformin improved body weight, blood pressure and liver function in only overweight patients with type 2 diabetes.




J Endocrinol Metab. 2019;9(1-2):18-21
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jem549