In vitro and in vivo effects of metformin on human adipose tissue adiponectin
Zulian A., Cancello R., Girola A., Gilardini L., Alberti L., Croci M.
Randomized Controlled Trial, published in Obes Facts (2011) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Journal
- Obes Facts (2011)
- Reported sample size
- —
- Source database
- Europe PMC
- PMID
- 21372608
- PMCID
- PMC6444565
- DOI
- 10.1159/000324582
- Citations
- 44
Abstract (original English)
Objective The effects of metformin on adiponectin production are controversial and have never been investigated in human adipose tissue. We analysed whether metformin modulates, in vitro and in vivo, gene expression, protein content, and secretion of adiponectin. Methods For the in vitro study, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) samples from 5 non-diabetic obese patients were collected. For the in vivo investigation, 22 obese patients were randomly assigned to metformin+lifestyle (ML) or placebo+lifestyle (PL) intervention. SAT specimens and blood samples were collected before and after the intervention in both groups. Results In in vitro experiments, treatment with metformin increased the expression and secretion of adiponectin in SAT, but not in VAT explants. In the in vivo study, a significant increase in adiponectin and a decreased expression of a macrophage activation marker (CD68) were observed only in SAT of the ML group. Conclusion These results demonstrate that metformin is able to up-regulate adiponectin gene expression, both in vivo and in vitro, and to stimulate adiponectin protein secretion from human SAT in vitro. It could be hypothesised that metformin-induced adiponectin increase within adipose tissue may have an unexpected role in the reduction of local inflammation.
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
Evidence level
Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.
How we grade evidenceBrowse all related research
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