Effects of dexfenfluramine treatment on body weight and postprandial thermogenesis in obese subjects. A double-blind placebo-controlled study.
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dexfenfluramine on body weight and post-prandial thermogenesis in obese subjects. Thirty obese subjects, men and women, with an excess weight between 20 and 80% of the ideal weight and aged from 20 to 60 years, participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study. During the treatment period, the subjects were not submitted to caloric restriction. Basal metabolic rate and postprandial thermogenesis (following a 400 kcal test meal) measurements were made by indirect calorimetry. Metabolic parameters such as glucose, insulin, thyroid hormones, free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, total cholesterol and triglycerides were also measured before the test meal. These measurements were done at baseline, after one week and after three months of treatment. Following the three month treatment period, the mean weight loss of the dexfenfluramine group was 4.6 +/- 1.6 kg (s.e.) (P < 0.01) whereas the placebo group maintained the initial weight. The mean weight loss in the dexfenfluramine group represented 15% of the initial overweight. There was no significant change in either group in basal metabolic rate and postprandial thermogenesis following one week and three months of treatment (P > 0.05). The caloric intake after the treatment period was significantly reduced in the dexfenfluramine group (from 1631 +/- 103 kcal (s.e.) to 1353 +/- 109 kcal (s.e.); P < 0.05); in the placebo group, the changes were not significant (P > 0.05). The plasma concentrations of tri-iodothyronine, total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly reduced in the dexfenfluramine group (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Lafreniere
F
F
Metabolic Unit, Notre-Dame Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Lambert
J
J
Rasio
E
E
Serri
O
O
D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015431:Weight Loss
D005277:Fenfluramine