Publication: Journal of Central South University (Medical Sciences)
Abstract
High-altitude hypoxia may alter metformin pharmacokinetics in type 2 diabetes patients, but this effect had not previously been characterized despite implications for glycemic control and lactic acidosis risk at altitude. This study compared metformin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics between 85 type 2 diabetes patients living at low altitude (1,500 m) versus high altitude (3,800 m), using UPLC-MS/MS for concentration measurement and Phoenix NLME for population pharmacokinetic modeling. Plateau hypoxia significantly slowed metformin metabolism, increasing AUC by 23.5% and prolonging half-life, while glucose-lowering efficacy was similar between groups but lactic acidosis risk was elevated in the high-altitude group. The findings suggest that extending dosing intervals and reinforcing medication education could help manage the increased lactic acidosis risk associated with metformin use at high altitude.
Author(s): Shen Y, Luo X, Qin N, Hu L, Luo L, Wang Z, Sun Y, Wang R, Li W
Published: 2023 年 4 月 28 日
Phoenix NLME：PK/PD at High Altitude
Phoenix NLME's population modeling revealed that high-altitude hypoxia slows metformin metabolism in this study, raising a safety consideration for patients living at altitude. As part of a Phoenix platform used by more than 1,600 companies across 60 countries, Phoenix NLME can be paired with Modeling Assistant, an AI copilot for model building and PML authoring.
