Risk of Metformin-Associated Lactic Acidosis (MALA) in Patients After Gastric Bypass Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacokinetic data suggest that the risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) may be increased after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of metformin on plasma lactate levels before and after RYGB surgery.

METHODS: Retrospective study of plasma lactate levels before and 3 months after RYGB surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) not using metformin (MET-0, N = 58), on a stable dose (MET-S, N = 138), or on a decreasing dose (MET-D, N = 85) of metformin.

RESULTS: Preoperatively, lactate levels were similar in patients on metformin (1.8 ± 0.05 mmol/L) and those not on metformin (1.7 ± 0.08 mmol/L), P = 0.21. Three months postoperatively, lactate levels had decreased in all groups (P < 0.001) to 1.3 ± 0.07 (SE), 1.4 ± 0.05, and 1.2 ± 0.05 mmol/l in MET-0, MET-S, and MET-D, respectively. Lactate levels differed between the groups (P = 0.03), with the lowest level in MET-D. The number of patients with hyperlactatemia (lactate > 2 mmol/l) decreased from 31 to 14%, from 22 to 8.6%, and from 26 to 4.7% in MET-S, MET-0, and MET-D, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Mild hyperlactatemia (lactate > 2 mmol/l) is common in morbidly obese patients with T2DM. It is probably related to increase lactate production by adipocytes. Lactate levels decreased after RYGB-induced weight loss, irrespective of the use of metformin. We therefore conclude that there is no need for routinely lowering of the metformin dose after uncomplicated RYGB surgery, as long as normal renal function is preserved.