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Effects of metformin on energy intake and satiety in obese children
Author(s) -
Adeyemo M. A.,
McDuffie J. R.,
Kozlosky M.,
Krakoff J.,
Calis K. A.,
Brady S. M.,
Yanovski J. A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.445
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1463-1326
pISSN - 1462-8902
DOI - 10.1111/dom.12426
Subject(s) - metformin , medicine , obesity , food intake , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus
Aims To investigate the effects of metformin on appetite and energy intake in obese children with hyperinsulinaemia. Methods We conducted a 6‐month randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial to evaluate the effects of metformin 1000 mg twice daily on body weight and energy balance in 100 obese children with hyperinsulinaemia aged 6–12 years. The children ate ad libitum from standardized food arrays on two separate occasions before and after 6 months of study medication. The first test meal was consumed after an overnight fast. The second was preceded by a pre‐meal load. For each test meal, energy intake was recorded, and the children completed scales of hunger, fullness and desire to eat. Results Data from the meal studies at baseline and after treatment with study medication were available for 84 children (metformin‐treated, n = 45; placebo‐treated, n = 39). Compared with placebo, metformin treatment elicited significant reductions from baseline in adjusted mean ± standard error of the mean energy intake after the pre‐meal load (metformin: −104.7 ± 83.8 kcal vs. placebo: +144.2 ± 96.9 kcal; p = 0.034) independently of changes in body composition. Metformin also significantly decreased ratings of hunger (−1.5 ± 5.6 vs. +18.6 ± 6.3; p = 0.013) and increased ratings of fullness (+10.1 ± 6.2 vs. −12.8 ± 7.0; p = 0.01) after the pre‐meal load. Conclusions These data suggest that decreased perceived hunger resulting in diminished food intake are among the mechanisms by which metformin treatment reduces body weight in overweight children with hyperinsulinaemia.