Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effects of Acarbose on Non-Diabetic Overweight and Obese Patients: A Meta-Analysis

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Advances in Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 19 July 2021

This article has been updated

Abstract

Introduction

This systematic review aims to verify the efficacy of acarbose monotherapy in treating obese or overweight patients without diabetes.

Methods

In the study, we conducted a systematic search of the Pub-Med, EMBASE, Cochrane and Science Citation Index Expanded databases in search of clinical trials on acarbose treatment, overweight and obesity. The crucial inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients were diagnosed as overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2); (2) randomized controlled trials (RCTs); (3) patients had undergone acarbose monotherapy or placebo control; (4) acarbose treatment had been carried out for at least 3 months. Exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM); (2) patients had received a weight loss medication or surgery in the past 3 months; (3) papers not published in English; (4) repeated research results of the same experiment or repeated published documents.

Results

A total of 7 studies involving 132 in the acarbose group and 137 in placebo group, 269 subjects in total, were included in this meta-analysis. From the selected seven papers, we extracted the following clinical parameters: systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density cholesterol (HDL) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). An important finding of our research is that TG was the only significantly reduced parameter in the acarbose group. Weight mean difference (WMD) was − 0.21 (95% CI − 0.33, − 0.09) mmol/l between acarbose (P = 0.0006) and placebo patients. Reduction of BMI was also greater for acarbose than placebo subjects, although the discrepancy was not statistically significant (P = 0.56). Moreover, no hypoglycemia occurred in either the acarbose group or placebo group. A few subjects experienced gastrointestinal reactions, but these were mild and improved over time. Acarbose has no obvious influence on other metabolic indexes.

Conclusion

Acarbose monotherapy is beneficial in reducing TG levels in obese or overweight patients and will not result in hypoglycemia during medication. The side effects of acarbose are mild.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

References

  1. Rachmani R, Bar-Dayan Y, Ronen Z, et al. The effect of acarbose on insulin resistance in obese hypertensive subjects with normal glucose tolerance: a randomized controlled study[J]. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2004;6(1):63–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bayraktar F, Hamulu F, Ozgen AG, et al. Acarbose treatment in obesity: a controlled study[J]. Eat Weight Disord. 1998;3(1):46–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hauner H, Petzinna D, Sommerauer B, et al. Effect of acarbose on weight maintenance after dietary weight loss in obese subjects[J]. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2001;3(6):423–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Laube H, Linn T, Heyen P. The effect of acarbose on insulin sensitivity and proinsulin in overweight subjects with IGT[J]. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1998;106(03):231–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Penna IAA, Canella PRB, Vieira CS, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors are reduced with a low dose of acarbose in obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome[J]. Fertil Steril 2007;88(2):519–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chiasson JL. The effect of acarbose on insulin sensitivity in subjects with IGT[J]. Diabet Med. 1996;13(2):23–4.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Malaguarnera M, Giugno I, Ruello P, et al. Treatment of familial hypertriglyceridaemia with acarbose[J]. Diabetes Obes Metab. 1999;2(1):33–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Yu Chung Chooi. The epidemiology of obesity[J]. Metab Clin Exp. 2019;92:6–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Reilly JJ. Health effects of overweight and obesity in 195 countries[J]. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(15):1496.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Smetanina N, Albaviciute E, Babinska V, Karinauskiene L, Albertsson-Wikland K, Petrauskiene A, Verkauskiene R. Prevalence of overweight/obesity in relation to dietary habits and lifestyle among 7–17 years old children and adolescents in Lithuania. BMC Public Health. 2015;1(15):1001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wing RR, Bolin P, Brancati FL, et al. Cardiovascular effects of intensive lifestyle intervention in type 2 diabetes. New Eng J Med. 2013;369(2):145–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Guang Y, Chunlin Li. Application of α -glucosidase inhibitor in diabetic patients [J]. Chin J Drug Appl Monit. 2007;01:16–20.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hanefeld M, Pistrosch F, Koehler C, et al. Conversion of IGT to type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with incident cases of hypertension[J]. J Hypertens. 2012;30(7):1440–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Noushin K, Alireza S. Evaluation of the effects of acarbose on weight and metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular markers in patients with obesity and overweight[J]. Int J Prev Med. 2020;11:140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Nakhaee A, Sanjari M. Evaluation of effect of acarbose consumption on weight losing in non-diabetic overweight or obese patients in Kerman[J]. J Res Med Sci. 2013;18(5):391–4.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Jadad AR, Moore RA, Carroll D, et al. Assessing the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials: is blinding necessary? Control Clin Trials. 1996;17:1–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Li N, Zhong L, Wang C, et al. Cemented versus uncemented hemi-arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in elderly patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020;99:e19039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Bray GA, Bellanger T. Epidemiology, trends, and morbidities of obesity and the metabolic syndrome[J]. Endocrine. 2006;29:109–17 (PMID: 16622298).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kissane NA, Pratt JSA. Medical and surgical treatment of obesity[J]. Best Practice Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2011;25(1):11–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Martin KA, Mani MV, Mani A. New targets to treat obesity and the metabolic syndrome[J]. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015;763:S0014299915004574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ying C, Qingsen L. Progress in non-surgical treatment of adult obesity [J]. J Air Force General Hospital. 2010;26(04):220–4.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Xiangli C, Wen T, Min S. Observation of 60 cases of obesity with igt treated by acarbose intervention[J]. Chin J Misdiagnos. 2003;3(11):1675–6.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ramirez I. Does reducing the rate of ef®ciency of digestion reduce food intake[J]. Am J Physiol. 1992;263:R852–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Siraj ES. Is there a role for metformin or acarbose as a weight-loss agent in the absence of diabetes[J]? Cleve Clin J Med. 2003;70:702–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Halpern A, Mancini MC, Suplicy H, Zanella MT, Repetto G, Gross J, et al. Latin American trial of orlistat for weight loss and improvement in glycaemic profile in obese diabetic patients[J]. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2003;5:180–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Hokanson JE, Austin MA. Plasma triglyceride level as risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of high density lipoprotein cholesterol level: a metaanalysis of population-based prospective studies[J]. J Cardiovasc Risk. 1996;3:213–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Inoue I, Shinoda Y, Nakano T, et al. Acarbose ameliorates atherogenecity of low-density lipoprotein in patients with IGT[J]. Metab-Clin Exp. 2006;55(7):946–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Penna IAA. Acarbose in obese patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study[J]. Hum Reprod. 2005;20(9):2396–401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Malaguarnera M, Giugno I, Ruello P, et al. Treatment of familial hypertriglyceridaemia with acarbose[J]. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2000;2(1):33–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Pan CY, Gao Y, Chen JW, et al. Efficacy of acarbose in Chinese subjects with IGT[J]. Diabe Res Clin Pract. 2003;61(3):183–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Liqing C, Airong Y. Systematic evaluation of acarbose in the treatment of IGT[J]. Chin Pharmacy. 2015;26(18):2509–12.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Carrascosa JM, Molero JC, Fermín Y, et al. Effects of chronic treatment with acarbose on glucose and lipid metabolism in obese diabetic Wistar rats[J]. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2001;3(4):240–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Pérez C, Fernández-Agulló T, De Solís AJ, et al. Effects of chronic acarbose treatment on adipocyte insulin responsiveness, serum levels of leptin and adiponectin and hypothalamic NPY expression in obese diabetic Wistar rats[J]. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2008;35(3):256–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Ogawa S, Takeuchi K, Ito S. Acarbose lowers serum triglyceride and postprandial chylomicron levels in type 2 diabetes[J]. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2004;6(5):384–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Malaguarnera M, Giugno I, Ruello P, et al. Acarbose is an effective adjunct to dietary therapy in the treatment of hypertriglyceridaemias[J]. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1999;48(4):605–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Kahn SE, Prigeon RL, Mcculloch DK, et al. Quantification of the relationship between insulin sensitivity and β-cell function in human subjects[J]. Diabetes. 1993;42(11):1663–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Maogao X, Ping C. Effect of adjuvant therapy with Bifidobacterium triple viable capsule on β cell function and insulin resistance in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients[J]. Chin J Microecol. 2017;29(4):454–6.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Bischoff H. The mechanism of alpha-glucosidase inhibition in the management of diabetes[J]. Clin Invest Med. 1995;18:303–11.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Khalili N, Safavipour A. Evaluation of the effects of acarbose on weight and metabolic, inflammatory, and cardiovascular markers in patients with obesity and overweight[J]. Int J Prev Med. 2020;11:140.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Najafian M. A review of α-amylase inhibitors on weight loss and glycemic control in pathological state such as obesity and diabetes[J]. Compar Clin Pathol. 2014;25(2016):1253–64.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Funding

No funding or sponsorship was received for this study or publication of this article. The Rapid Service Fee was funded by the authors.

Authorship

All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this article, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given their approval for this version to be published.

Disclosures

The authors Ai-Qing Yu, Jiong Le, Wen-Tao Huang, Bin Li, Hui-Xin Liang, Qun Wang, Yu-Ting Liu, Charlotte-Aimee Young, Mei-Ying Zhang and Shu-Lan Qin declare that they have no competing interests.

Compliance With Ethics Guidelines

This article is based on previously conducted studies and does not contain any new studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article/as supplementary information files.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

    Jiong Le, Wen-Tao Huang, Hui-Xin Liang & Shu-Lan Qin

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

    Ai-Qing Yu, Bin Li, Qun Wang & Yu-Ting Liu

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China

    Mei-Ying Zhang

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Charlotte-Aimee Young

Authors
  1. Ai-Qing Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jiong Le
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wen-Tao Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hui-Xin Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Qun Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yu-Ting Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Charlotte-Aimee Young
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Mei-Ying Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Shu-Lan Qin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shu-Lan Qin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, AQ., Le, J., Huang, WT. et al. The Effects of Acarbose on Non-Diabetic Overweight and Obese Patients: A Meta-Analysis. Adv Ther 38, 1275–1289 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01602-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01602-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation