Effects of acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (Bay G 5421), on orally loaded glucose, maltose and sucrose and on blood glucose control in non-insulin-dependent diabetics.

Fifty g glucose, 50g maltose and 50g sucrose were loaded to 12 nonobese healthy male volunteers with and without 100 or 300 mg a-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, and the inhibitory effect on digestion and absorption of these saccharides was studied. In another series of investigations, acarbose 100 mg a day were orally administered to 12 non-insulin-dependent diabetics for 3 months together with meals. Blood glucose was determined to investigate the effect of acarbose on blood glucose control in non-insulin-dependent diabetics. In the saccharide loading tests, orally administered 300 mg acarbose did .not practically inhibit absorption of 50g glucose or SOg maltose. When SOg sucrose was loaded, however, 100 or 300 mg acarbose markedly decreased absorption of this disaccharide, resulting in inhibition of increases in blood glucose and insulin. Non-insulindependent diabetics had significantly lower fasting blood glucose and HbA , in 3 months of acarbose ingestion as compared with the corresponding levels in the preceding 3 months. Meteorism, increased flatulence and loose stools were complained of as adverse effects of acarbose, but they were not so serious as to require the discontinuation of medication. Acarbose might afford a safe and effective supplementary means for controlling blood glucose in diabetics.