Research Article Details

Article ID: A49187
PMID: 14987322
Source: Aliment Pharmacol Ther
Title: Metformin in the treatment of patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Increased insulin resistance is the major pathogenic mechanism in the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of metformin, a well-known insulin-sensitizing agent, in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis were randomized into two groups. The first group was given lipid and calorie-restricted dietary treatment alone, and the second group was given metformin 850 mg b.d. plus dietary treatment, for 6 months. The changes in biochemical, sonographic and histological parameters were compared. RESULTS: The mean serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferase, insulin and C-peptide levels decreased and the index of insulin resistance improved significantly from baseline in the group given metformin. The mean changes in these parameters in the metformin group were significantly greater than those in the group given dietary treatment alone. Although more patients in the metformin group showed improvement in the necro-inflammatory activity, compared with the group given dietary treatment alone, no significant differences in necro-inflammatory activity or fibrosis were seen between the groups. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that improvement of the insulin sensitivity with metformin may improve the liver disease in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.01888.x

Strategy ID Therapy Strategy Synonyms Therapy Targets Therapy Drugs
S01 Improve insulin resistance insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide Details
S03 Anti-fibrosis fibrosis Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 Details
S05 Anti-inflammatory inflammatory Bile acid; TNF-a inhibitor; Dual PPAR-α and -δ agonists; Toll-Like Receptor; (TLR)-4 antagonist; Caspase inhibitor; ASK-1 inhibitor Ursodeoxycholic Acid; Pentoxifylline; Elafibranor; JKB-121; Emricasan; Selonsertib; Details

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name

Diseases ID DO ID Disease Name Definition Class
I05 9352 Type 2 diabetes mellitus A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus Details

Drug ID Drug Name Type DrugBank ID Targets Category Latest Progress
D225 Metformin Chemical drug DB00331 PRKAB1 inducer activator; ETEDH inhibitor; GPD1 inhibitor Improve insulin resistance Under clinical trials Details
D199 L-alanine Chemical drug DB00160 KYNU -- Failed in clinical trials Details
D328 Serine Chemical drug DB00133 SRR Improve insulin resistance Under clinical trials Details
D182 Insulin Biological drug DB00030 INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of -- Under clinical trials Details
D157 Glucophage Chemical drug DB00331 -- -- Under clinical trials Details
D094 Cysteamine Chemical drug DB00847 GSS stimulant Renal drug Under clinical trials Details
D095 Cysteamine bitartrate Chemical drug DB00847 -- -- Under clinical trials Details