Summary
Dietary fibre and biproducts of some vegetable extracts (Guar etc.) are advocated
to reduce postprandial hyperglycaemia but there is some evidence that these may disturb
the absorption kinetics of orally administered drugs. The effect of Guar gum on the
digestive absorption of metformin was tested in 6 healthy subjects given 1700 mg of
metformin with a standardised meal. Metformin blood levels showed that when given
together with Guar there was a reduction in the absorption rate over the first 6 hours.
These findings suggest that combination therapy may diminish the anti-hyperglycaemic
action of metformin.
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