Impaired glucose tolerance is normalized by treatment with the thiazolidinedione troglitazone

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 188 - 193
• Main Authors: ANTONUCCI, T, WHITCOMB, R, MCLAIN, R, LOCKWOOD, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01.02.1997
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood pressure; C-Peptide - blood; C-Peptide - drug effects; C-Peptide - metabolism; Chromans - therapeutic use; Diabetes; Double-Blind Method; Ethnic Groups; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; Glucose; Glucose Intolerance - drug therapy; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hemoglobin; Humans; Hypertension; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Insulin - blood; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin resistance; Lipids; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patients; Peptides; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prospective Studies; Research design; Thiazoles - therapeutic use; Thiazolidinediones; Time Factors; Triglycerides - blood; Triglycerides - metabolism; Troglitazone; New York; United States > US; Endocrinopathy; Human; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Treatment efficiency; Radioimmunoassay; Glucose tolerance test; Biological effect; Impaired glucose tolerance; Glycemia; Troglitazone
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/diacare.20.2.188

Impaired glucose tolerance is normalized by treatment with the thiazolidinedione troglitazone. T Antonucci , R Whitcomb , R McLain , D Lockwood and R M Norris Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division, Warner-Lambert Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 12 weeks of treatment with either troglitazone, an investigational thiazolidinedione that acts as an insulin-action enhancer, or placebo in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 51 subjects with IGT between 24 and 77 years of age were enrolled in this multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study (troglitazone, 25 patients; placebo, 26 patients). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 400 mg troglitazone (every morning [QAM]) or placebo (QAM). The main outcome measure was the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) assessing glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels in the fasting state and every 30 min up to 2 h after ingesting the glucose load. Fasting serum levels of HbA1c, fructosamine, lipids, and blood pressure were also measured. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients completed the study. The glucose, insulin, and C-peptide responses after a glucose load were significantly reduced at 6 and 12 weeks in the troglitazone treatment group. After 6 weeks of treatment, 75% (n = 18) of those taking troglitazone had improved to normal glucose tolerance, whereas only 38% (n = 9) of those of placebo showed improvement (P = 0.008). After 12 weeks of treatment, 80% (n = 16) of the troglitazone treatment group had normalized their glucose tolerance, while only 48% (n = 10) of those on placebo had converted to normal (P = 0.016). Fasting triglyceride levels in the troglitazone treatment group had decreased by 40 mg/dl (0.45 mmol/l) (P = 0.0016). Other lipid measurements, blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, and fructosamine were normal at baseline for both treatment groups and remained normal throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: The glycemic response after a glucose load is statistically and clinically significantly improved for patients with IGT treated with troglitazone.