title: Acarbose reduces elevated testosterone serum concentrations in hyperinsulinaemic premenopausal women: a pilot study.
abstract: In seven hyperinsulinaemic, hypertestosteronaemic premenopausal patients, we tested the effect of an attenuation of insulin serum concentrations by long-term treatment with the enteral disaccharidase inhibitor acarbose on serum concentrations of total and free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). The subjects showed typical features of hyperinsulinaemia-hypertestosteronaemia syndrome, including elevated concentrations of insulin and testosterone, normal concentrations of DHEAS and suppressed SHBG concentrations. The patients were orally treated with an initial dosage of 50 mg acarbose/ day, which was gradually increased to a maximum of 300 mg/day. Blood was sampled at week 6 (under a dosage of 150 mg acarbose/day) and at week 20 of treatment. A significant reduction in the increase of glucose and insulin concentrations, determined after administration of a standard oral 100 g glucose load, was found at week 6 (P < 0.02, P < 0.00007) and at week 20 (P < 0.04, P < 0.003) of therapy and was associated with a significant decrease of total and free testosterone at week 20 (P < 0.04, P < 0.01). Concentrations of both DHEAS and SHBG remained nearly unchanged. In conclusion, it was shown that a decline of ovarian hypertestosteronaemia was achieved in association with a flattening of the postprandial glucose and insulin increase by long-term treatment with acarbose. Side effects were limited to abdominal distension and flatulence and were absent using a low dosage of 50 mg acarbose/ meal (3 x 50 mg/day).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Geisthövel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frorath
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brabant
mesh_terms: D020909:Acarbose; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004186:Disaccharidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017697:Premenopause; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007328:Insulin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D014312:Trisaccharides; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D004186:Disaccharidases; D020909:Acarbose