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Review: metformin does not increase fatal or non-fatal lactic acidosis or blood lactate concentrations in type 2 diabetes mellitus

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Data sources
Studies were identified by searching the Cochrane Library (to April 2000), Medline (1966–2000), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1974–2000), Oldmedline, Reactions (1983 to May 2000), Index Medicus (1959–1965), and bibliographies of identified papers and by contacting investigators.

Study selection
Clinical trials and cohort studies were selected if they included patients with type 2 diabetes, lasted 1 month, compared metformin alone or combined with other treatments with placebo or any other hypoglycaemic treatment, and reported the number of patients and duration of treatment.

Data extraction
Data were extracted on study methods and quality, participants, interventions, and outcomes. Attempts were made to contact authors for missing data.

Main results
176 studies (118 prospective comparative trials, 46 prospective cohort studies, and 12 retrospective cohort studies; mean study duration 2.1 y, mean drop out rate 9.2%) met the selection criteria. 26 099 participants (mean age 57 y, 61% men) were followed for 65 621 patient-years (17 156 participants [35 619 patient-y] in the . . . [Full text of this article]

Ronald J Sigal, MD, MPH

Ottawa Health Research Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada