REDUCTION OF VISCERAL ADIPOSE-TISSUE AND IMPROVEMENT OF METABOLIC INDEXES - EFFECT OF DEXFENFLURAMINE IN NIDDM

Increased visceral adipose tissue is thought to contribute to impaired glucose tolerance. We studied 10 men with non-insulin dependent diabe tes (NIDDM) before and after a 12-week intervention study using dexfen fluramine, Subjects had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.4 +/- 1.7 k g\m(2) and had an abdominal distribution of body fatness (waist-to hip ratio >0.9). Anthropometric indices, biochemistry, macronutrient inta ke from 7-day food records as well as a euglycaemic glucose clamp and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed at week 0 and week 12. Abdominal adipose tissue area measured by MRI was reduced from 854 +/ - 270 cm(2) to 666 +/- 231 cm(2) (p=0.003) due mainly to a selective 3 2% reduction in visceral fat area from 484 +/- 230 cm(2) to 333 +/- 72 cm(2) (p=0.002). Insulin sensitivity improved from 0.29 +/- 0.13 [min (-1) (mU/L)] to 0.54 +/- 0.21 [min(-1) (mU/L)] (p=0.01) and C-peptide levels reduced from 0.77 +/- 0.24 mu mol/L to 0.58 +/- 0.15 mu mol/L ( p=0.002). The reductions in fasting glucose and glycated haemoglobin f ailed to achieve significance. Easting total cholesterol and triglycer ide levels significantly reduced (p=<0.001 and p=0.021 respectively). There was a reduction in total energy intake (p=0.005) due to a signif icant reduction in calories obtained from fat (p<0.001). Thus dexfenfl uramine was shown to be a useful adjunct therapy for the reduction of visceral fat in abdominally-obese men with NIDDM with an associated im provement in insulin sensitivity.