Cimetidine reduces weight and improves metabolic control in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the weight-reducing effect of cimetidine in overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
A 12-week clinical intervention study of 400 mg cimetidine prescribed three times daily in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled design.


METHODS
Forty-three overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes (age 18-65 y, body mass index (BMI) 27.2-48.2 kg/m2).


METHODS
Body weight, BMI, body fat, waist and hip circumference, waist/hip ratio, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, plasma concentrations of insulin, insulin/glucose ratio and lipids at the start and after 12 weeks, and daily recordings of appetite.


RESULTS
Subjects given cimetidine (n = 19) and placebo (n = 24) lost 5.0 +/- 2.2 kg (mean +/- s.d.) and 1.3 +/- 1.1 kg, respectively. Significant reductions were observed in appetite, body fat (29.9 +/- 6.6% to 25.3 +/- 7.4%), waist circumference (111.5 +/- 10.3 cm to 107.4 +/- 10.6 cm), waist/hip ratio (0.96 +/- 0.08 to 0.94 +/- 0.08), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (reductions of 6.9 +/- 11.4 mm Hg and 6.0 +/- 6.6 mm Hg, respectively) in cimetidine group only. Significant decreases in fasting concentrations of blood glucose, HbA1c, plasma insulin, insulin/glucose ratio, plasma triglycerides and a significant increase in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed in the cimetidine group only.


CONCLUSIONS
Cimetidine reduces appetite and body weight, and improves metabolic control in overweight subjects with Type 2 diabetes.
Støa-Birketvedt
G
G
Laboratory of Gastroenterology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
Paus
P N
PN
Ganss
R
R
Ingebretsen
O C
OC
Florholmen
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001824:Body Constitution; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002927:Cimetidine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides