二甲双胍的分子药理机制目前尚不完全清楚。已知其至少作用于肝脏,减少糖异生(即葡萄糖的生产)与减轻胰岛素抵抗[15]。有研究表明二甲双胍可激活单磷酸腺苷活化的蛋白激酶(英语:AMP-activated protein kinase)(AMP-activated protein kinase,AMPK),是二甲双胍抑制肝脏糖异生、在胰岛素信号传导通路中提高胰岛素的敏感性不可缺少的机制之一[16]。AMPK作为蛋白激酶不仅在胰岛素信号传导通路中,在全身能量平衡以及葡萄糖和脂肪的代谢中也起着重要作用[17]。动物实验和临床研究均表明二甲双胍可诱导糖尿病的粪便微生物菌群构成发生重大变化,不仅可能有助于胰高血糖素样肽-1(GLP-1)的分泌及作用,还证实可改善胰岛素的敏感性,也是其抗2型糖尿病作用的重要机制之一[18][19]。
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