Metabolomic analysis of serum samples from a clinical study on ipragliflozin and metformin treatment in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: Exploring human metabolites associated with visceral fat reduction

Abstract

AbstractStudy ObjectiveThe effects of the sodium‐dependent glucose transporter‐2 inhibitor ipragliflozin were compared with metformin in a previous study, which revealed that ipragliflozin reduced visceral fat content by 12%; however, the underlying mechanism was unclear. Therefore, this sub‐analysis aimed to compare metabolomic changes associated with ipragliflozin and metformin that may contribute to their biological effects.DesignA sub‐analysis of a randomized controlled study.SettingChiba University Hospital and ten hospitals in Japan.PatientsFifteen patients with type 2 diabetes in the ipragliflozin group and 15 patients with type 2 diabetes in the metformin group with matching characteristics, such as age, sex, baseline A1C, baseline visceral fat area, smoking status, and concomitant medication.InterventionsIpragliflozin 50 mg or metformin 1000 mg daily.MeasurementsThe clinical data were reanalyzed, and metabolomic analysis of serum samples collected before and 24 weeks after drug administration was performed using capillary electrophoresis time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry.Main ResultsThe reduction in the mean visceral fat area after 24 weeks of treatment was significantly larger (p = 0.002) in the ipragliflozin group (−19.8%) than in the metformin group (−2.5%), as were the subcutaneous fat area and body weight. The A1C and blood glucose levels decreased in both groups. Glutamic pyruvic oxaloacetic transaminase, γ‐glutamyl transferase, uric acid, and triglyceride levels decreased in the ipragliflozin group. Low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased in the metformin group. After ipragliflozin administration, N2‐phenylacetylglutamine, inosine, guanosine, and 1‐methyladenosine levels increased, whereas galactosamine, glucosamine, 11‐aminoundecanoic acid, morpholine, and choline levels decreased. After metformin administration, metformin, hypotaurine, methionine, methyl‐2‐oxovaleric acid, 3‐nitrotyrosine, and cyclohexylamine levels increased, whereas citrulline, octanoic acid, indole‐3‐acetaldehyde, and hexanoic acid levels decreased.ConclusionsMetabolites that may affect visceral fat reduction were detected in the ipragliflozin group. Studies are required to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms.