Abstract

Objective: Metformin is the most widely prescribed anti-hyperglycemic agent. It has been linked to the d evelopment of lactic acidosis. However the incidence of this condition is thought to be very low in metformin treated patients. The aim of this study to assess the levels of serum lactate in metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Thirty patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin therapy were recruited to the study from ou tpatients attending Benghazi Diabetes Center. Thirty age matched and sex-matched healthy controls were selected for comparison. Serum lactate was determine d in both groups Results: Metformin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes had higher mean serum lactate levels compared with age-matched and sex-matched healthy subjects (1.87 mmol/l vs 1.49 mmol/l, P <0.05). There is no effect of duration of treatment or the dose of metformin on serum lactate. Conclusions: Metformin therapy is associated with small increase in serum lactate levels that seems to be dose independent and not affected by treatment duration. This increase is far less than the levels known to be associated with lactic acidosis