The effect of metformin treatment on gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal hormone levels in normal subjects

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Abstract
Gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal hormone levels were measured in healthy non-diabetic subjects after metformin treatment (1.5 g/day). The maximum acid output was increased from 15.7 ±3.9 mmol/h (mean±SEM) to 30.0±7.1 mmol/h (p < 0.05) and the peak acid output was increased from 16.4±4.1 mmol/h to 31.7±7.2 mmol/h (p < 0.05) after two weeks treatment. Serum insulin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide and secretin levels were normal. After treatment for one week, however, there was a significant increase in fasting vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) from 83±6 ng/l to 102±9 ng/l (p < 0.02) and in stimulated VIP from 58±5 ng/l to 79±5 ng/l (p < 0.05). Stimulated glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) was also increased from 82±10 ng/l to 174±24 ng/l (p < 0.01) after one week's treatment. It is suggested that metformin acts as a eak histamine agonist.