AN EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL SIDE-EFFECTS OF ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS USED FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES-MELLITUS

Orally taken alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are used for the management of diabetes mellitus. These drugs can prevent the postprandial rise of the blood glucose level by inhibiting the enzymatic digestion of carb ohydrates in the intestinal lumen. Non-absorbable inhibitors such as a carbose are expected to function exclusively in the intestine, but abs orbable inhibitors such as miglitol may exert an inhibitory effect on nonintestinal alpha-glucosidases present in the various cell types of the body. The potential side-effects of absorbable inhibitors ace eval uated in this literature review. It is concluded that there is little risk of inducing unwanted side-effects when miglitol is taken in an or al dose of approximately 1 mg kg(-1) body weight. The use of absorbabl e inhibitors is, however, not advised in case of kidney dysfunction.