IMPROVEMENT OF INSULIN SENSITIVITY ASSOCI ATED TO THE USE OF ACIPIMOXIN A MORBIDLY OBESE SUBJECT

Insulin sensitivity was estimated in a morbidity obese, insulin-resist ant, glucose-intolerant patient before and after 4 weeks of treatment with Acipimox (250 mg t.i.d), an orally-administred, long-acting antil ypolitic drug. The ensuing fall in circulating levels of fasting free fatty acids was associated with a clear amelioration of insulin resist ance, as assessed by a minimal model analysis of a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test as well as by an oral glucose toler ance test Similarly, this treatment brought about a reappearance of GH response to oral stimulation with clonidine. The evidence showing Aci pimox-induced amelioration of insulin resistance in this patient witho ut diet exercise or weight loss should encourage exploring the potenti al utility of this drug in this type of patients