Influence of sibutramine, orlistat and Ispaghula in reducing body weight and total body fat content in obese individuals.
BACKGROUND
The correlations between combined body fat parameters and risk factors of obesity explained a portion of the variation in the weight, BMI and waist circumference, the average number of categorical metabolic risk factors increases progressively with increasing total body fat content. There is currently no data available in which influence of drugs can be assessed on total body fat content. This was a non-randomized, prospective, open-label, parallel group study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of sibutramine, orlistat and ispahgula in reducing body weight and percentage of total body fat content in obese individuals.


METHODS
A nonrandomized, open label, prospective, intention to treat clinical trial was conducted from July 2008 to March 2009 in JPMC, Karachi, Pakistan. The study was based on three arms A (ispahgula), B (orlistat) and C (sibutramine) comprising 40 patients in each. The selection criteria has included patients from either sex with age 18 years or more with BMI > or =30 as obese with or without associated risk factors and BMI > or = 27 < 30 as over weight only if any significant risk factor is present. Compliance on diet chart and instruction for life style modification were assessed monthly.


RESULTS
The comparison of mean difference in percentage of total body fat content between the groups and within the groups at day 150 is (p-value) 0.029 and difference in body weight is (p-value) 0.042 which is statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Sibutramine is more effective than ispahgula and orlistat in reducing body weight and percentage of total body fat content in obese patients.
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Medical Science Institute, Jinnah Post graduate Medical Centre, Karachi. drsajk@yahoo.com
Syed Asif J
SA
Kazmi
Moosa
M
Khan
Ghulam Rasool
GR
Mashori
Azra
A
Saleem
Naheed
N
Akhtar
Ashraf
A
Jahangeer
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077403:Orlistat; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011620:Psyllium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors
D001067:Appetite Depressants; D002400:Cathartics; D003503:Cyclobutanes; D007783:Lactones; D011620:Psyllium; D000077403:Orlistat; C058254:sibutramine