Comparison of efficacy of sibutramine or orlistat versus their combination in obese women.
OBJECTIVE
Sibutramine and orlistat are currently used for weight loss. We aimed to investigate the effect of orlistat and sibutramine combination therapy in treatment of obese women.


METHODS
Study population consisted of 89 obese women who had a body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2, were normotensive, and had normal glucose tolerance. All patients were placed on a diet which contained fat approximately 30% of total calorie intake and the diet was designed to cause an energy deficit of approximately 2.51-3.56 megajoule/day. At the first month of diet (baseline), all patients were randomly divided into three therapy groups: Diet + Orlistat (group 1; n = 30 patients), Diet + Sibutramine (group 2; n = 29 patients), Diet + Orlistat + Sibutramine (group 3; n = 30 patients). Body weight, body fat distribution and serum lipid levels were evaluated baseline and after six months in all subjects.


RESULTS
Mean weight loss was 5.5 +/- 4.9 kg (p = 0.024) in group 1, 10.1 +/- 3.6 kg (p < 0.001) in group 2, 10.8 +/- 6.6 kg (p < 0.001) in group 3 after the six months. Weight loss was significantly greater in group 2 (p = 0.003) and group 3 (p = 0.002) when compared with group 1. Percentage of mean weight loss was 5.5 +/- 3.1% in group 1, 10.2 +/- 4.8% in group 2, 10.6 +/- 5.7% in group 3. Percentage of weight loss was higher in group 2 (p = 0.01) and group 3 (p = 0.009) when compared with group 1. Weight loss and percentage of weight loss were not different between group 2 and group 3.


CONCLUSIONS
These three regimens had different results on weight loss in obese women. Combination drug therapy and sibutramine therapy were both more effective than orlistat therapy alone. However, no significant difference was noted between combination drug therapy and sibutramine treatment groups.
Sari
Ramazan
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. drsari@hotmail.com
Balci
Mustafa Kemal
MK
Cakir
Mehtap
M
Altunbas
Hasan
H
Karayalcin
Umit
U
D000328:Adult; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077403:Orlistat; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D003503:Cyclobutanes; D007783:Lactones; D000077403:Orlistat; C058254:sibutramine