Research reveals metformin enhances beneficial gut bacteria and reduces insulin resistance in high-fat diet rats, suggesting metabolic regulation.
Key Points
Metformin significantly improved glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in high-fat diet rats, enhancing metabolic health.
The treatment increased Lactobacillus abundance while reducing harmful bacteria such as Bilophila and Romboutsia, highlighting a shift in gut microbiota.
Increased short/medium-chain fatty acids were found in colonic contents, with butyric acid levels linked to reduced insulin resistance and liver injury.
This research suggests that metformin regulates metabolism through modifications to gut microbiota composition and microbial metabolites.