二甲雙胍的分子藥理機制目前尚不完全清楚。已知其至少作用於肝臟,減少糖異生(即葡萄糖的生產)與減輕胰島素抵抗[15]。有研究表明二甲雙胍可激活單磷酸腺苷活化的蛋白激酶(英語:AMP-activated protein kinase)(AMP-activated protein kinase,AMPK),是二甲雙胍抑制肝臟糖異生、在胰島素信號傳導通路中提高胰島素的敏感性不可缺少的機制之一[16]。AMPK作為蛋白激酶不僅在胰島素信號傳導通路中,在全身能量平衡以及葡萄糖和脂肪的代謝中也起着重要作用[17]。動物實驗和臨床研究均表明二甲雙胍可誘導糖尿病的糞便微生物菌群構成發生重大變化,不僅可能有助於胰高血糖素樣肽-1(GLP-1)的分泌及作用,還證實可改善胰島素的敏感性,也是其抗2型糖尿病作用的重要機制之一[18][19]。
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