EFFECT OF ACARBOSE ON GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE IN PATIENTS WITH NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

We evaluated the effect of acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, o n glucose intolerance in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Acarbose was given orally (300 mg/day) for 24 weeks to 20 NIDDM patients. Data in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) we re evaluated before and after 24 weeks of treatment using principal co mponent analysis. Acarbose administration significantly reduced the po stprandial plasma glucose level over 24 weeks of treatment. Principal component analysis suggested that the patients were separated into res ponders and non-responders. There was a significant improvement of fas ting and postprandial glucose levels after 12 and 24 weeks in the resp onders, but not in the non-responders. Plasma glucose level following the OGTT improved significantly after 24 weeks of treatment in the res ponders (Hotelling T-2 value = 47.098, P = 0.022500), but not in the n on-responders. The immunoreactive insulin level did not change in eith er group. Results thus suggest that acarbose improved insulin resistan ce in some patients with NIDDM (responders as classified by principal component analysis). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.