Effects of a single administration of acarbose on postprandial glucose excursion and endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized crossover study.
BACKGROUND
Postprandial hyperglycemia has been reported to elicit endothelial dysfunction and provoke future cardiovascular complications. A reduction of postprandial blood glucose levels by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose was associated with a risk reduction of cardiovascular complications, but effects of acarbose on endothelial function have never been elucidated.


METHODS
This study was aimed to assess the efficacy of acarbose on postprandial metabolic parameters and endothelial function in type 2 diabetic patients. Postprandial peakglucose (14.47 +/- 1.27 vs. 8.50 +/- 0.53 mmol/liter), plasma glucose excursion (PPGE), and change in the area under the curve (DeltaAUC)glucose after a single loading of test meal (total 450 kcal; protein 15.3%; fat 33.3%; carbohydrate 51.4%) were significantly higher in diet-treated type 2 diabetic patients (n = 14) than age- and sex-matched controls (n = 12).


RESULTS
The peak forearm blood flow response and total reactive hyperemic flow (flow debt repayment) during reactive hyperemia, indices of resistance artery endothelial function on strain-gauge plethysmography, were unchanged before and after meal loading in controls. But those of diabetics were significantly decreased 120 and 240 min after the test meal. A prior administration of acarbose decreased postprandial peakglucose, PPGE, and DeltaAUCglucose. The peak forearm blood flow and flow debt repayment were inversely well correlated with peakglucose, PPGE, and DeltaAUCglucose but not with DeltaAUCinsulin or the other lipid parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Even a single loading of test meal was shown to impair endothelial function in type 2 diabetic patients, and the postprandial endothelial dysfunction was improved by a prior use of acarbose. Acarbose might reduce macrovascular complication by avoiding endothelial injury in postprandial hyperglycemic status.
Shimabukuro
Michio
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan. mshimabukuro-ur@umin.ac.jp
Higa
Namio
N
Chinen
Ichiro
I
Yamakawa
Ken
K
Takasu
Nobuyuki
N
D020909:Acarbose / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D049628:Body Size; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D020909:Acarbose