Enhanced intestinal 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose uptake under metformin is not fully suppressed by loperamide

This study investigated whether the metformin (Met)-induced enhanced intestinal uptake of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) is reduced by loperamide, a long-acting anti-diarrheal agent.

Mean 18F-FDG uptake in the mouse small intestine and colon with Met exposure was compared with that in control mice. In the Met group, high-dose (1.0 mg/kg body weight) and low-dose (0.1 mg/kg body weight) loperamide were introduced, and 18F-FDG uptake in the small intestine and colon was compared with that of control mice administered high-dose loperamide. The percent injected dose of 18F-FDG per gram of tissue (%ID/g) in the extracted tissues was then determined.

18F-FDG uptake increased significantly in the small intestine (0.64±0.06 vs. 1.01±0.15, p=0.040) and, especially, the colon (0.46±0.13 vs. 2.16±0.51, p<0.001) after Met exposure. Neither high-dose nor low-dose loperamide significantly reduced 18F-FDG uptake in the small intestine (0.82±0.31 vs. 0.84±0.22, p=0.93 and 0.78±0.25 vs. 0.70±0.15, p=0.13, respectively) or colon (2.13±0.41 vs. 1.67±0.55, p=0.063 and 1.77±0.39 vs. 1.80±0.25, p=0.56, respectively). The colonic %ID/g was significantly higher in Met groups irrespective of loperamide introduction than in control group, whereas the significant difference in the small intestine was observed only between Met and control groups.

Metformin increased 18F-FDG uptake in intestines especially in colon. Loperamide administration partially, but not sufficiently, suppresses the Met-induced increased colonic uptake of 18F-FDG.