METFORMIN ENHANCES CLEARANCE OF CHYLOMICRONS AND CHYLOMICRON REMNANTSIN NONDIABETIC MILDLY OVERWEIGHT GLUCOSE-INTOLERANT SUBJECTS

OBJECTlVE - To assess the effect of metformin on the metabolism of int estinally derived lipoproteins in nondiabetic individuals who were mil dly overweight and glucose intolerant. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of nine subjects with a BMI greater than or equal to 25 kg/m(2) and fasting serum glucose less than or equal to 6.1 mmol/l and who we re glucose intolerant were studied. The subjects underwent a vitamin A far-loading test before and after a 3-month treatment with 850 mg met formin twice a day. The metabolic behavior of the postprandial lipopro teins was compared with that found in a group of 19 healthy normolipid emic individuals who participated in a previous study. RESULTS - Mean total plasma, chylomicron fraction, and nonchylomicron fraction retiny l palmitate (RP) pretreatment levels were 3.4-fold, 3.59-fold, and 3-f old higher, respectively, in the study group than in the normolipidemi c group and were reduced by 50, 56, and 32%, respectively, after 3 mon ths of metformin treatment. The decrease of chylomicron levels after t reatment was positively correlated to the fasting triglyceride values before treatment (r = 0.73, P = 0.039) and to the serum insulin level at 120 min of standard glucose loading before treatment (r = 0.91, P=0 .002). CONCLUSIONS - Metformin was shown to be beneficial in the clear ance of postprandial lipoproteins in nondiabetic individuals who were mildly overweight and glucose intolerant.