Metformin reduces lipid stores and causes intestinal fluid imbalance.

(A) Quantitation of triacylglycerides (TAGs) in flies treated with 0 mM, 1 mM, 10 mM and 100 mM metformin for 7 days. TAG levels decrease with increasing metformin concentration with significantly lower levels in the 10 mM and 100 mM metformin groups compared to untreated controls (P<0.05, n = 10 (2 flies per replicate)). (B) Metformin treatment of female flies does not affect the number of fecal deposits produced per fly over a 24 hour period (P>0.05, Wilcoxen test, n = 5 (5 flies per replicate)). (C) Metformin treatment of female flies does not affect the size of fecal deposits as measured by the mean area of deposits (P>0.05, Wilcoxen test, n = 5 (5 flies per replicate)). (D) Female flies fed with 100 mM metformin produce more concentrated fecal deposits as measured by increased average dye intensity (P<0.05, Wilcoxen test, n = 5 (5 flies per replicate)). (E) Female flies fed with 100 mM metformin produce more RODs as a percentage of their total excreta output (P<0.05, Wilcoxen test, n = 5 (5 flies per replicate)).