Cimetidine suspension as adjuvant to energy restricted diet in treating obesity.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of cimetidine suspension compared with placebo suspension on weight loss in moderately obese patients taking a 5 MJ/day diet supplemented with dietary fibre. To determine the relation between the effectiveness of the blinding and weight loss.


METHODS
Randomised double blind study with an eight week parallel group phase and a subsequent eight week crossover or continuation phase.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic.


METHODS
60 patients (51 women) aged 18-60.


METHODS
Weight loss.


RESULTS
After eight weeks of treatment the mean weight loss in the cimetidine group (5.7 kg) was similar to that of the placebo group (5.9 kg; p = 0.78, 95% confidence interval -2.0 to 1.5 kg). Body mass index, waist and hip measurements, waist-hip ratio, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased similarly in the two groups. No association was found between weight loss and the patients' ability to guess if they were being given drug or placebo. Correct guesses of current drug were more prevalent than expected by chance (25/37 correct, p = 0.05 for the parallel group phase; 26/30, p = 0.0001 for the crossover phase).


CONCLUSIONS
Cimetidine had no effect on weight loss in moderately obese patients. The study underlines the potential problem that blinding of patients to treatment can be compromised.
Department of Endocrinology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.
M H
MH
Rasmussen
T
T
Andersen
L
L
Breum
P C
PC
Gøtzsche
J
J
Hilsted
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003718:Denmark; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D004043:Dietary Fiber; D002927:Cimetidine