Metformin and feeding increase levels of the appetite-suppressing metabolite Lac-Phe in humans
Barry Scott, Emily A. Day, Katie O’Brien, John Scanlan, Grace Cromwell, Aine Ni Scannail, Marie E. McDonnell, David K. Finlay, Lydia Lynch
Abstract
Metformin, a widely used first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D), is known to reduce blood glucose levels and suppress appetite. Here we report a significant elevation of the appetite-suppressing metabolite N-lactoyl phenylalanine (Lac-Phe) in the blood of individuals treated with metformin across seven observational and interventional studies. Furthermore, Lac-Phe levels were found to rise in response to acute metformin administration and post-prandially in patients with T2D or in metabolically healthy volunteers.
Topics & Concepts
MetforminAppetiteMetaboliteType 2 diabetesMedicineInternal medicineEndocrinologyObservational studyDiabetes mellitusPharmacologyMetabolism, Diabetes, and CancerDiet and metabolism studiesBiochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques