The effect of gemfibrozil on lipid profile and glucose metabolism in hypertriglyceridaemic well-controlled non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. For the Gemfibrozil Study Group.
We assessed the efficacy of gemfibrozil therapy on lipid profile and glucose metabolism in a large cohort of (type 2) non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. We enrolled 217 type 2 diabetic patients with plasma triglyceride concentrations equal to or above 2 mmol/l: 110 were randomized to gemfibrozil (600 mg twice daily) and 107 to placebo treatment in a double blind fashion. Each treatment was followed for 20 weeks. To assess postprandial glucose metabolism and insulin secretion, at time 0 and 20 weeks, a standard meal containing 12.5 g of proteins, 40.1 g of carbohydrate, 10 g of lipids was given. No differences in demographic characteristics were observed between patients randomized either to gemfibrozil or to placebo therapy. No differences were observed in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentration changes between the baseline observations and week 20 of both treatments. At variance, both treatments significantly increased HDL cholesterol. Gemfibrozil treatment significantly decreased plasma triglyceride concentration from 316+/-84 to 214+/-82 mg/dl (P < 0.001), whereas with placebo triglyceride levels increased from 318 + 93 to 380 + 217 mg/dl. No changes were observed in non-esterified fatty acid concentrations or in fasting plasma glucose concentrations, in HbA(1C) values, insulin and C-peptide concentrations. Gemfibrozil treatment: 1) significantly reduces circulating triglyceride concentration; 2) does not significantly affect cholesterol concentration; 3) does not worsen glucose metabolism.
Avogaro
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Division of Metabolic Diseases, Via Giustiniani 2, I-35100 Padova, Italy.
Piliego
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T
Catapano
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A
Miola
M
M
Tiengo
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A
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007558:Italy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010919:Placebos; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D015248:Gemfibrozil