Orlistat (Xenical) is useful for treating obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes,
a conference was told this week.
A one-year study involving 535 patients who were prescribed a reduced-calorie
diet and either orlistat 120mg or placebo three times a day found that patients
in the orlistat group lost significantly more weight than patients in the placebo
group.
Presenting the results, Dr David Kelly (University of Pittsburgh school of medicine,
US) said: “The potential role of orlistat may be especially important for
type 2 diabetes patients using insulin, given that weight gain can be a side
effect of insulin therapy.” Weight loss greater or equal to 5 per cent
was seen in 33 per cent of the orlistat group compared with 13 per cent of the
placebo group. Orlistat-treated patients also had improved glycaemic control,
greater reduction in use of antidiabetic medication and improvement in blood
lipid levels compared with the control group.
A second study comparing orlistat with placebo and involving 503 patients with
type 2 diabetes taking metformin showed similar results.
The studies were presented on November 7 at an International Diabetes Federation
congress in Mexico. Earlier this year, orlistat was found to improve glucose
tolerance (PJ, May 20, p750).