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A systematic review, meta-analysis, dose-response, and meta-regression of the effects of acarbose intake on glycemic markers in adults

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  • Published:
Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Prior research has yielded mixed results regarding the impact of acarbose intake on glycemic markers. To provide a more comprehensive analysis, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to compile data from various randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of acarbose intake on fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in adults.

Methods

To identify relevant literature up to April 2023, a comprehensive search was conducted on various scholarly databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The effect size of the studies was evaluated using a random-effects model to calculate the weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochran’s Q test and I2.

Results

This systematic review and meta-analysis included a total of 101 RCTs with a total of 107 effect sizes. The effect sizes for FBS in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl), insulin in picomoles per liter (pmol/l), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) in percentage (%), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were 92, 46, 80, and 22, respectively. The pooled analysis indicated that acarbose intake resulted in significant decreases in FBS (p = 0.018), insulin (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that acarbose intake can potentially lead to significant improvements in glycemic parameters by decreasing the levels of FBS, HbA1c, and insulin. However, larger and more rigorously designed studies are still needed to further evaluate and strengthen this association.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

Abbreviations

RCTs:

Randomized clinical trials

HbA1c:

Hemoglobin A1C

HOMA-IR:

Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance

WMD:

Weighted mean differences

CI:

Confidence intervals

NAFLD:

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BMI:

Body mass index

GRADE:

Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation

T2DM:

Type 2 diabetes Meletus

GLP-1:

Glucagon-like peptide-1

SCFAs:

Short chain fatty acids

FFA:

Free fatty acid

GPR:

G protein-coupled receptors

acetyl-CoA:

acetyl-coenzyme A

TCA:

Tricarboxylic acid

FFAR:

Free fatty acid receptor

WHO:

World health organization

IGT:

Impaired glucose tolerance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Research Committee, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Sina Raissi Dehkordi

  2. Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran

    Naseh Pahlavani

  3. Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mahlagha Nikbaf-Shandiz

  4. Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Reza Bagheri

  5. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran

    Niloufar Rasaei & Farideh Shiraseb

  6. Department of Nutrition Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Melika Darzi

  7. Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Science and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Samira Rastgoo

  8. Student Research Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Samira Rastgoo & Omid Asbaghi

  9. Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Hossein Bahari

  10. Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Omid Asbaghi

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  1. Sina Raissi Dehkordi
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Contributions

The authors’ responsibilities were as follows SRD: designed the study; SRD and OA: developed the search strategy; SRD, MNS, and OA: extracted the data and conducted the analyses; NP, MD, NR, and SR: drafted the manuscript; SRD, and HB: assessed the risk of bias of the meta-analyses; FSH, OA, and MNS: interpreted the results; FSH, RB, and OA revised manuscript, and all authors: read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Farideh Shiraseb or Omid Asbaghi.

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Dehkordi, S.R., Pahlavani, N., Nikbaf-Shandiz, M. et al. A systematic review, meta-analysis, dose-response, and meta-regression of the effects of acarbose intake on glycemic markers in adults. J Diabetes Metab Disord (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-023-01336-9

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