title: Added benfluorex in obese insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes.
abstract: To determine the effect of benfluorex on glycaemic control in obese insulin-requiring Type 2 diabetes, 76 patients (aged 53.8 +/- 12.8 years) receiving insulin (> or = 0.5 IU/kg) and an appropriate low-calorie diet were evaluated after a 1-month run-in followed by a 3-month double-blind treatment period (3 tablets daily) with benfluorex (B; n = 37) vs placebo (P; n = 39). At inclusion, the B and P groups respectively did not differ in body weight (80.9 +/- 10.3 vs 77.2 +/- 9.1 kg), body mass index (BMI) (30.1 +/- 4.6 vs 29.0 +/- 2.3 kg/m2) or fasting blood glucose (11.22 +/- 4.33 vs 10.35 +/- 4.42 mmol/l). However, daily insulin dose and HbA1c levels were higher in the B group (59.9 +/- 18.6 vs 50.4 +/- 12.8 IU, p = 0.012; and 7.72 +/- 1.60 vs 6.96 +/- 1.27%, p = 0.025, respectively). After 3 months of treatment, the decrease in daily insulin dose was greater in the B group (8.7 +/- 10.1 vs 2.7 +/- 8.1 IU; p = 0.032), with a decrease in HbA1c (-0.73 +/- 1.74%, p = 0.026), vs no change in the P group (+0.01 +/- 1.65%, NS) and a tendency towards a greater decrease in fasting blood glucose (-1.43 +/- 5.41 vs +0.42 +/- 3.78 mmol/l respectively). Body weight and BMI were also lower in the B group (1.77 ñ 2.27 vs 0.21 ñ 2.68 kg, p = 0.013; and 0.64 +/- 0.84 vs 0.07 +/- 1.07 kg/m2, p = 0.019, respectively) in parallel with the decrease in insulin dose. Triglycerides decreased in the B group vs an increase in the P group (-0.54 +/- 2.04 vs +0.21 +/- 0.70 mmol/l p = 0.06). Total cholesterol decreased within the B group (-0.47 +/- 1.01 mmol/l; p = 0.013) and vs the P group (intergroup p = 0.006). Adverse events were reported in 11 patients in the B group vs 5 in the P group (NS), causing dropout in only one case (intercurrent illness, P group). Addition of benfluorex in obese insulin-requiring Type 2 diabetes thus enhances glycaemic control and lowers both daily insulin requirement and body weight. Benfluorex + insulin is a valid alternative for obese patients who remain poorly controlled despite insulin or who require high doses of insulin.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital R. Debré, Reims, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leutenegger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bauduceau
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillon-Metz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolino-Peltier
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vannereau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009765:Obesity; D019518:Postprandial Period
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D005277:Fenfluramine; C001584:benfluorex