A review of the metabolic effects of sibutramine.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and coronary artery disease. Current management strategies of obesity include lifestyle management strategies of obesity include lifestyle interventions and pharmaco therapy. Sibutramine is a drug with established efficacy in weight reduction and maintenance of weight loss. It reduces food intake and attenuates the fall in reduces food intake and attenuates the fall in metabolic rate associated with weight loss.


OBJECTIVE
To review the metabolic effects associated with sibutramine use.


METHODS
Relevant articles were identified through a Medline search (up to December 2004).


RESULTS
Weight loss with sibutramine treatment is associated with improved insulin sensitivity and a fall in glycosylated haemoglobin levels in type 2 diabetic patients. In most trials sibutramine exerted favourable effects on lipids, especially exerted favourable effects on lipids, especially on high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as on the total:HDL cholesterol ratio. Sibutramine also lowers serum uric acid concentrations. Furthermore, this drug seems to favourably influence adipocytokines; it reduces serum leptin and resistin levels and increases adiponectin levels. Sibutramine also exerts a beneficial effect on hyper androgenaemia in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Preliminary findings also suggest that weight loss following treatment with sibutramine is useful in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).


CONCLUSIONS
Weight loss following sibutramine administration is associated with several favourable metabolic effects.
Filippatos
T D
TD
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Kiortsis
D N
DN
Liberopoulos
E N
EN
Mikhailidis
D P
DP
Elisaf
M S
MS
D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015431:Weight Loss
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D003503:Cyclobutanes; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C058254:sibutramine