[The effect of metformin on lactate levels in type II diabetes]

The authors investigated the lactic acid levels in the blood of 57 type 2 diabetics treated with metformin. The mean lactate level before onset of metformin treatment was in the whole group 2.01 +/- 0.36 mmol/l and after 6 months of metformin administration it remained unchanged 2.00 +/- 0.42 mmol/l. Compensation of diabetes evaluated by HbAlc improved significantly (9.74 +/- 1.62% before treatment, and 8.52 +/- 1.36% after 6 months of treatment). The mean cholesterol levels declined significantly and the mean triacylglycerol levels were after two months of metformin administration significantly lower. Metformin treatment did not lead to an increase of the patients body weight.