alpha-Glucosidase inhibitor reduces the progression of carotid intima-media thickness.
OBJECTIVE
An open randomized prospective study was performed to elucidate the effect of an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, voglibose, on the progression of atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Voglibose at a dose of 0.4-0.6 mg/day was added on 51 subjects out of 101 type 2 diabetic patients being treated with diet, sulphonylurea (SU) or insulin injections, and the average (AveIMT) and maximum intima-media thickness (MaxIMT) of their carotid arteries were examined for 3 years.


RESULTS
Irrespective of the differences in treatments, addition of voglibose reduced the progression of AveIMT and MaxIMT to -0.024 +/- 0.047 (+/-S.D.) and -0.021 +/- 0.144 mm/year, respectively. Without voglibose, diabetic patients showed significant (P < 0.0001) progression of AveIMT and MaxIMT (0.056 +/- 0.046 and 0.098 +/- 0.122 mm/year, respectively). The administration of voglibose resulted in a significant reduction of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, as well as an increase in HDL cholesterol concentration. Multivariate regression analysis showed that administration of voglibose independently reduced the progression of AveIMT by 0.069 mm/year (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that voglibose reduces the progression of IMT and may be a candidate for an anti-atherosclerotic drug for type 2 diabetic patients.
Yamasaki
Yoshimitsu
Y
Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. yamasaki@medone.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Katakami
Naoto
N
Hayaishi-Okano
Rieko
R
Matsuhisa
Munehide
M
Kajimoto
Yoshitaka
Y
Kosugi
Keisuke
K
Hatano
Mitue
M
Hori
Masatsugu
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007294:Inositol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D065089:Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007294:Inositol; D007328:Insulin; C102817:voglibose