title: Effects of acarbose on carbohydrate metabolism, electrolytes, minerals and vitamins in fairly well-controlled non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose induces a reversible delay of carbohydrate digestion. This action represents a new therapeutic option for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The current investigation is a prospective, randomized double-blind crossover trial in 24 non-insulin dependent diabetics, fairly well controlled on diet alone or diet plus sulphonylurea. In periods of 10 weeks, the patients received successive treatment with acarbose and placebo in random order. A significantly lower HbA1 level and urinary glucose excretion were shown during acarbose as compared to placebo. The other parameters of diabetic control remained unchanged. Acarbose induced no significant alterations in the concentrations of important electrolytes, iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. Although no major side effects occurred, meteorism and flatulence were frequent complaints. These data suggest that acarbose, in a dosage of 3 x 100 mg/day, is a safe drug, with slight beneficial effect on diabetic metabolic control.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition, University of Antwerp (UIA), Wilrijk/Belgium.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Gaal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nobels
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Leeuw
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D006029:Glycosuria / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020909:Acarbose; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004573:Electrolytes; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D008903:Minerals; D014312:Trisaccharides; D014815:Vitamins