Acarbose is an effective adjunct to dietary therapy in the treatment of hypertriglyceridaemias.

Article Details

Citation

Malaguarnera M, Giugno I, Ruello P, Rizzo M, Motta M, Mazzoleni G

Acarbose is an effective adjunct to dietary therapy in the treatment of hypertriglyceridaemias.

Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1999 Oct;48(4):605-9.

PubMed ID
10583032 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

AIMS: In diabetics, acarbose causes a reduction of blood glucose and triglyceride levels. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of this drug in non diabetic subjects with hypertriglyceridaemia. METHODS: Thirty non diabetic patients with hypertriglyceridaemia type IIb or IV (24 males, six females; mean age 51.1+/-10.2 years) were studied. They were stratified into two groups depending on their basal triglyceride concentration (group A: triglyceride values 4.5 mmol l-1 ). Treatment consisted of 4 week courses of diet plus acarbose (50 mg twice daily) alternating with 4 weeks of diet alone for a total period of 16 weeks. RESULTS: Mean triglyceride values decreased significantly during the first and third cycles of therapy, i.e. diet plus acarbose treatment cycles in both patient groups. Group A also had significant reductions in total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol concentrations after completion of the acarbose treatment. Reduction of triglyceride levels was observed after both acarbose courses in patients affected by hypertriglyceridaemia type IIb. A marked reduction of triglyceride concentrations was achieved by patients affected by hypertriglyceridaemia type IV after the second acarbose course only. CONCLUSIONS: Diet alone did not reduce triglyceride concentrations to normal values in our patients. The data suggest that acarbose is a useful adjunct to dietary control in non-diabetic patients affected by severe hypertriglyceridaemia.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Pharmaco-metabolomics
DrugDrug GroupsMetaboliteChangeDescription
AcarboseApproved InvestigationalTriglycerides
decreased
Acarbose decreases the level of Triglycerides in the blood