A new study co-authored by Oliver Fiehn of the West Coast Metabolomics Center at UC Davis has uncovered a powerful new way to tell whether patients are taking metformin, the most widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes. The team identified a group of tiny blood molecules—called N-lactoyl-amino acids—that rise in step with metformin levels. Unlike standard measures such as HbA1c or blood glucose, these molecules clearly distinguished patients who were taking their medication from those who were not. Although present at extremely low levels, they provide a sensitive metabolic “fingerprint” of metformin’s action—opening the door to more objective adherence monitoring and improved diabetes care
