Abstract
The metabolic effects of a biguanide, metformin, on glycemic control and eating behavior
were investigated in 16 type 2 diabetic subjects with mental retardation who were
habitual overeaters and had difficulty in controlling their appetites. The subjects
(n = 16) received metformin (750 mg/day) for 6 months and body weight, body mass index
(BMI) were measured monthly. They had repetitive metabolic and hormonal studies. Their
eating behavior was analyzed by questionnaires given by their guardians before and
after treatment. Metformin treatment significantly reduced their body weights (p <
0.01), body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.01), the levels of HbA1c (p < 0.001), fasting
blood glucose (FBG) (p < 0.05), serum insulin (p < 0.05), C-peptide (p < 0.01), triglyceride
(p < 0.01), and total cholesterol (p < 0.05). Insulin resistance index (FBG (mg/dl)
× serum insulin levels (µU/ml) × 1/405) was significantly reduced after 1-month treatment.
The serum leptin levels were significantly decreased after 4 month's treatment and
thereafter (p < 0.05). Analysis of the questionnaires before and after treatment showed
that the daily intake of regular and additional foods significantly decreased after
treatment (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) with improvements of eating behavior.
We conclude that metformin may have beneficial effects not only to control glycemia
but also to correct eating behavior in obese type 2 diabetic patients with the difficulty
in controlling their appetites. The improvement was related to the reduction of insulin
resistance and serum leptin levels.
Key words
Type 2 diabetes - obesity - biguanides - metformin - leptin
References
- 1
Bailey C J, Turner R C.
Metformin.
New Engl J Med.
1996;
334
574-579
- 2
Borst S E, Snellen H G, Lai H L.
Metformin treatment enhances insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle
of Sprague-Dawley rats.
Life Sci.
2000;
67
165-174
- 3
Caprio S, Tamborlane W, Silver D, Robinson C, Leibel R, McCarthy S, Grozman A, Belous A,
Maggs D, Sherwin R S.
Hyperleptinemia: an early sign of juvenile obesity. Relations to body fat depots and
insulin concentrations.
Am J Physiol.
1996;
271
E626-630
- 4
Carlsen S M, Grill V, Folling I.
Evidence for dissociation of insulin- and weight-reducing effects of metformin in
non-diabetic male patients with coronary heart disease.
Diab Res Clin Pract.
1998;
39
47-54
- 5
Clement K, Garner C, Hager J, Philippi A, LeDuc C, Carey A, Harris T J, Jury C, Cardon L R,
Basdevant A, Demenais F, Guy-Grand B, North M, Froguel P.
Indication for linkage of the human OB gene region with extreme obesity.
Diabetes.
1996;
45
687-690
- 6
Clement K, Vaisse C, Lahlou N, Cabrol S, Pelloux V, Cassuto D, Gourmelen M, Dina C,
Chambaz J, Lacorte J M, Basdevant A, Bougneres P, Lebouc Y, Froguel P, Guy-Grand B.
A mutation in the human leptin receptor gene causes obesity and pituitary dysfunction.
Nature.
1998;
392
398-401
- 7
DeFronzo R A, Goodman A M. et al .
Efficacy of metformin in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
New Engl J Med.
1998;
333
541-549
- 8
Gielkens H A, Verkijk M, Lam W F, Lamers C B, Masclee A A.
Effects of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia on satiety in humans.
Metabolism.
1998;
47
321-324
- 9
Gunay-Aygun M, Cassidy S B, Nicholls R D.
Prader-Willi and other syndromes associated with obesity and mental retardation.
Behav Genet.
1997;
27
307-324
- 10
Hattori A, Uemura K, Miura H, Ueda M, Iguchi A.
Gender-related difference in relationship between insulin resistance and serum leptin
level in Japanese type 2 diabetic subjects.
Endocr J.
2000;
47
615-621
- 25
Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group .
MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of cholesterol lowering with simvastatin in 20 536
high-risk individuals: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Lancet.
2002;
360 (9326)
7-22
- 11
Kellerer M, Lammers R, Fitshe A, Haring H U.
Insulin inhibits leptin receptor signaling in HEK293 cells at the level of jauns kinase-2:
a potential mechanism for hyperinsulinemia-associated leptin resistance.
Diabetologia.
2001;
44
1125-1132
- 12
Lee A, Morley J E.
Metformin decreases food consumption and induces weight loss in subjects with obesity
with type II non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Obes Res.
1998;
6
47-53
- 13
Lee A J.
Metformin in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Pharmacotherapy.
1996;
16
327-351
- 14
Makimattila S, Nikkila K, Yki-Jarvinen H.
Causes of weight gain during insulin therapy with and without metformin in patients
with Type II diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia.
.
1999;
42
406-412
- 15
Maruhama Y, Abe R, Okuguchi F, Ohneda A.
Dietary intake and hyperlipidemia in controlled diabetic outpatients.
Diabetes.
1997;
26
94-99
- 16
Matsumoto K, Miyake S, Yano M, Ueki Y, Yamaguchi Y, Akazawa S, Tominaga Y.
Glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity in nonobese and obese
Japanese subjects.
Diabetes Care.
1997;
20
1562-1568
- 17
Paolisso G, Amato L, Eccellente R, Gambardella A, Tagliamonte M R, Varricchio G, Carella C,
Giugliano D, D'Onofrio F.
Effect of metformin on food intake in obese subjects.
Europ J of Clin Invest.
1998;
28
441-446
- 18
Patane G, Piro S, Rabuazzo A M, Anello M, Vigneri R, Purello F.
Metformin restores insulin secretion altered by chronic exposure to free fatty acids
or high glucose: a direct metformin effect on pancreatic beta-cells.
Diabetes.
2000;
49
735-740
- 19
Saladin R, De Vos P, Guerre-Millo M, Leturque A, Girard J, Staels B, Auwerx J.
Transient increase in obese gene expression after food intake or insulin administration.
Nature.
1995;
377
527-529
- 20
Solomon S S, Mishra S K, Cwik C, Rajanna B, Postlethwaite A E.
Pioglitazone and metformin reverse insulin resistance induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha
in liver cells.
Horm Metab Res.
1997;
29
379-382
- 21
Tommis A D.
Diabetes.
Br Med Bull.
2001;
59
159-172
- 22
Stumvoll M, Nurjhan N, Perriello G, Dailey G, Gerich J E.
Metabolic effects of metformin in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
New Engl J Med.
1995;
333
550-554
- 23
Prospective Diabetes Study Group U K(UKPDS).
Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight
patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS).
Lancet.
1998;
352
854-865
- 24
Wang J, Liu R, Hawkins M, Barzilai N, Rossetti L.
A nutrient-sensing pathway regulates leptin gene expression in muscle and fat.
Nature.
1998;
393
684-688
M. D. Futoshi Yoshida
Central Hospital
Aichi Human Service Center
713 - 8 Kamiya-cho, Kasugai-shi
Aichi 480-0392
Japan
Phone: + 81568880811
Fax: + 81 5 68 88 08 24
Email: motoes0331@yahoo.co.jp