The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acarbose on inflammatory biomarkers and insulin resistance in diabetic patients before and after a standardized oral fat load (OFL). Ninety six patients were assigned to take acarbose 50mg three times a day and 92 to take placebo; after the first month acarbose was titrated to 100mg three times a day. We evaluated the following parameters at the baseline, and after 1, 2 and 7months: body mass index (BMI), glycemic control, fasting plasma insulin, post-prandial plasma insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), blood pressure, lipid profile, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C reactive protein (Hs-CRP), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin). Furthermore, at the baseline and at the end of the study all patients underwent OFL, and an euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp to evaluate M value and total glucose requirement. Acarbose was better than placebo in improving glycemic and lipid profile, and HOMA-IR. Furthermore, acarbose gave a decrease of fasting plasma insulin, post-prandial insulin, s-ICAM-1, sVCAM-1, IL-6, and Hs-CRP, not observed with placebo, even if no significant differences between the two groups were observed. During the second OFL performed after the therapy with acarbose, we observed a significant decrease of all inflammatory parameters' peaks compared to the OFL administered at baseline. Acarbose was more effective than acarbose in reducing the post-OFL peaks of the various parameters included the inflammatory markers, after 7months of therapy.
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