Evaluation of the effects of acarbose on weight and metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular markers in patients with obesity and overweight

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of acarbose as an antihyperglycemic agent (drug) on late complications of MetS. Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was done on patients with MetS admitted to Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center. They were assigned randomly to two groups: A who received acarbose ( n = 32) and group B who received a placebo ( n = 42) for 6 months. Cardiovascular indexes including flow-mediated dilation (FMD), intima-media thickness (IMT), epicardial fat thickness (EFT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline and 6 months after the treatment and compared between the two groups. Results: Post-intervention mean of weight (mean difference: −2.5 ± 0.89) and abdominal obesity (mean difference: −2.2 ± 0.64) in acarbose group were significantly decreased ( P value < 0.001). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) level in acarbose group was significantly higher than control group (44.7 ± 7.6 vs 41.1 ± 6.4; P value = 0.043), while the other metabolic parameters were not significantly different between the two groups ( P value > 0.05). In both groups, CRP and EFT decreased significantly after the intervention, and the levels of CRP, EFT, and IMT markers in the acarbose group were significantly lower than control group ( P value < 0.05). Conclusions: The administration of acarbose in patients with MetS can decrease weight and abdominal obesity as well as the reduction of inflammatory and cardiovascular markers, including CRP, EFT, and IMT and also increases HDL.

Antiaging agents: safe interventions to slow aging and healthy life span extension

“…A post hoc analysis showed that weight loss with acarbose therapy was not based on glycemic control status, but relied on baseline body weight [ 147 ]. Acarbose significantly reduces body weight and abdominal obesity, decreases epicardial fat, intima-media thickness, C-reactive protein levels, and improves HDL (high-density lipoprotein) levels in patients with metabolic syndrome [ 148 ]. Acarbose decreased key markers (Iba1 + microglia, tumor necrosis factor-α, and glial fibrillary acidic protein) of hypothalamic inflammation, while long-term treatment of acarbose (from 3 to 9 months, 20 mg/kg/day) enhanced memory during aging in SAMP8 mice [ 149 , 150 ].…”

A systematic review, meta-analysis, dose-response, and meta-regression of the effects of acarbose intake on glycemic markers in adults

“…In individuals with T2DM, there is often an increase in inflammatory markers. Acarbose may decrease insulin resistance by reducing these inflammatory markers (Derosa & Maffioli, 2012;Khalili & Safavipour, 2020). Also, in the subgroup analysis, our results showed that only health status significantly affects the insulin level, however, it was shown that only the BMI has a significant effect on the HOMA-IR levels.…”

Deep-Sea Sediments from the Southern Gulf of Mexico Harbor a Wide Diversity of PKS I Genes

“…Some monoterpenes have been described as presenting antimicrobial properties and painkilling effects [ 25 ]. Another compound detected was acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, which is described as a group of poorly absorbed antidiabetic agents [ 26 ]. Finally, domains related to the production of antibiotics, such as ansamycins, enediyne, vancomycin, streptomycin, and validamycin, were also present.…”

“…Moreover, they have also been associated with various antimicrobial, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and antipruritic functions, among others [ 48 ]. Of the antidiabetic drugs, acarbose is associated with lesser gastrointestinal side effects than other alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and has been used as a single drug or in combination with other antidiabetic medications to control blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic patients [ 26 ].…”