A Randomized Trial of Sibutramine in the Management of Obese Type 2 Diabetic Patients Treated With Metformin

This multicenter randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial compared placebo with two dosages of sibutramine (15 and 20 mg/day) for 12 months. We studied 195 patients from two centers in the U.K. (n = 28), eight in Canada (n = 116), five in France (n = 21), and six in Belgium (n = 30). Suitable subjects, identified from review of case notes and/or computerized clinic registers, were contacted personally or by telephone.

Inclusion criteria were as follows: type 2 diabetes (absence of ketonuria, rapid preceding weight loss, or need for insulin treatment), diabetes duration >6 months, BMI ≥27 kg/m², duration of metformin treatment of 3 months to 2 years, fasting serum glucose 7.0–15.0 mmol/l, and age 25–70 years. Exclusion criteria comprised the following: current or previous evidence of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, or stroke; seated pulse rate >100 bpm; diastolic blood pressure >95 mmHg; total fasting serum cholesterol >7.8 mmol/l; fasting serum triglycerides >5.6 mmol/l; serum creatinine >120 μmol/l; serum liver enzymes or bilirubin levels that exceeded twice the upper limit of normal; weight change of >3 kg during the preceding 3 months; malignancy; and significant neurological or psychiatric disturbances, including alcohol or drug abuse. Excluded medications (within the previous 3 months) were anorectic agents, laxatives, β-agonists (other than inhalers), cyproheptadine, phenothiazines, anti-depressants, anti-serotoninergics, barbiturates, antipsychotics, and oral corticosteroids. Antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs were permitted if treatment was stable for at least 3 months. Women were excluded if they were pregnant, lactating, or of child-bearing potential while not taking adequate contraceptive precautions.

Participants (Table 1) comprised 85 men (44%) and 109 women (56%) aged 27–69 years. There were no significant differences between centers in sex distribution, age, diabetes duration, or the dosage (mean 1,250 mg/day) or duration of metformin treatment. At entry, 70 subjects (36%) were hypertensive according to World Health Organization criteria, and 56 (29%) were taking anti-hypertensive treatment, with 17 (9%) receiving lipid-lowering drugs. Ethical approval was obtained at each site, according to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Eligible patients were given each center’s standard dietary advice by a dietitian and/or specialist nurse and returned within 4 weeks for random allocation to 15 or 20 mg/day sibutramine or placebo. For tolerability reasons, patients in the 20-mg sibutramine group took 15 mg sibutramine daily for the first 2 weeks. Patients were reviewed every 4 weeks, when dietetic advice was reinforced, medication compliance checked by capsule count, and adverse events and medication changes recorded. Glycemic control was monitored 3-monthly by fasting glucose and HbA_1c; metformin dosage was adjusted if necessary, but other antidiabetic drugs were not used.

Height, weight (in light clothes), and BMI were recorded at screening, and weight was measured 4-weekly thereafter. At randomization and at 6 and 12 months, waist and hip circumference were measured and waist-to-hip ratio was calculated. A 12-lead electrocardiogram, physical examination, and tobacco and alcohol history were recorded. Fasting blood samples and urine for standard screening were taken initially and 3-monthly thereafter. HbA_1c, serum glucose, insulin, C-peptide, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol were measured, and LDL cholesterol was calculated.

The study required 60 patients to be evaluated per treatment group, to be 90% powered at the 5% significance level to detect a treatment effect of 0.8% in HbA_1c, assuming a variability of 1.3%. The minimum differences from placebo (at 90% power and 5% significance level) that could be detected by the study were 0.65 and 0.67% for sibutramine dosages of 15 and 20 mg, respectively. Analyses, performed by the Biostatistics Section, Knoll Limited, were based on the intention-to-treat populations using the last observation carried forward.

Changes from baseline to end point in body weight, anthropometry, and metabolic measures were analyzed using ANCOVA, with factors for treatment group and country and the relevant baseline as a covariate. Pairwise comparisons between each sibutramine group and placebo were carried out using Fisher’s protected least-squares difference test. Metabolic measures were ranked before analysis, and Hodges-Lehmann estimates of treatment differences were determined. Analyses were also carried out on within-group changes, stratified by weight loss (<5, ≥5, and ≥10%) using one-sample t tests. The proportions of subjects within these categories were compared between sibutramine and placebo groups using χ² tests. All tests were two-tailed and carried out at the 5% level.

A total of 68 patients were assigned to 15 mg/day sibutramine, 62 to 20 mg/day sibutramine, and 64 to placebo. The groups were well matched at baseline (Table 1). There were 50 patients who withdrew prematurely (19 in the 15 mg/day sibutramine group, 13 in the 20 mg/day sibutramine group, and 18 in the placebo group). There were no significant group differences in reasons or numbers of withdrawals, and an imputation analysis indicated that this drop-out rate is unlikely to have influenced the outcome.

Placebo-treated patients showed no consistent weight change at any time; 88% of subjects (56 of 63) either gained weight or lost <5%, whereas only 12% lost ≥5%, and none lost ≥10% (Table 2 and Fig. 1). With 15 mg/day sibutramine, average weight fell steadily over 6 months to 5.3 kg (∼6%) below baseline and was then maintained throughout treatment. The 20-mg dose caused consistently greater weight loss, averaging 8 kg (∼8%) below baseline from 8 months to the end of treatment.

Significantly more sibutramine-treated subjects lost ≥5% weight (46 and 65% with 15 and 20 mg, respectively), whereas 14% of subjects receiving 15 mg/day and 27% of subjects taking 20 mg lost ≥10%.

BMI and hip and waist circumferences also fell significantly in both sibutramine-treated groups compared with placebo—more so with the higher dose (Table 2). Waist circumference, an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk (14), was reduced by 4.7 ± 0.7 cm with 15 mg sibutramine and by 6.6 ± 0.7 cm with 20 mg sibutramine (both P < 0.001), whereas placebo caused no significant change (0.2 ± 0.6 cm, P > 0.05). Waist circumference fell by ≥5 cm in 46% (15 mg) and 63% (20 mg) of sibutramine-treated patients but in only 18% with placebo. For waist circumference reductions of ≥10 cm, the corresponding figures were 14% (15 mg), 29% (20 mg), and 0% (placebo).

Overall, HbA_1c concentrations did not change significantly among the treatment groups (Table 3), but it fell significantly (0.7 ± 0.3%, P < 0.02) in subjects who lost 5–10% of weight and significantly further (1.2 ± 0.4%, P < 0.0001) in those losing ≥10%. Among the sibutramine-treated patients, percentage weight loss was significantly correlated with the fall in HbA_1c (r = 0.43, P < 0.001, for the 15-mg group and r = 0.32, P < 0.02, for the 20-mg group), but no correlation was seen in the placebo group, where average weight was unchanged (r = 0.5, P = 0.73). Fall in HbA_1c correlated significantly with percentage reduction in waist circumference in both sibutramine treatment groups (15 mg: r = 0.43, P < 0.001; 20 mg: r = 0.30, P < 0.05) and with placebo (r = 0.51, P < 0.001).

Fasting plasma glucose similarly showed no overall differences between the three treatment groups but fell significantly by 1.8 mmol/l (P < 0.001) in patients (sibutramine-treated only) who lost ≥10%. Fasting plasma insulin showed no significant changes with 15 mg sibutramine or placebo, but the final concentration was significantly decreased with 20 mg sibutramine compared with placebo (Table 3).

Metformin dosage was reduced in five patients (7%) receiving 15 mg sibutramine and in six patients (10%) with the 20-mg dosage, but in only one subject (2%) given placebo.

Baseline lipid levels (Table 3) were representative of those seen in moderately obese type 2 diabetic patients treated with metformin (15). Neither total nor LDL cholesterol showed any significant changes in any treatment group, but HDL cholesterol showed slight but significant rises of 0.1 mmol/l with both 15 and 20 mg sibutramine. The total cholesterol–to–HDL cholesterol ratio showed a slight but statistically significant fall (10%) with 15 mg sibutramine but no significant change with 20 mg sibutramine. In subjects who lost ≥5 or ≥10% weight, total cholesterol–to–HDL cholesterol ratio also showed modest but significant falls of 8% (P = 0.011) and 16% (P = 0.002), respectively.

Triglyceride levels did not alter significantly with placebo or 15 mg sibutramine but fell significantly by 0.2 mmol/l (9%) with 20 mg sibutramine. In subjects losing ≥5 and ≥10% weight, triglycerides fell significantly by 0.3 mmol/l (13%, P < 0.01) and 0.8 mmol/l (29%, P < 0.01), respectively.

Individual blood pressure responses varied widely in all three treatment groups. A few sibutramine-treated patients showed marked blood pressure rises, but systolic and diastolic blood pressure also rose in some placebo-treated patients, being higher at completion than at baseline in over 40% of cases (Fig. 2 and Table 4).

Blood pressure rises during sibutramine treatment were more apparent when measured sitting; standing systolic pressure showed no consistent group differences. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher at completion in the group receiving 15 mg/day (by 4 and 3 mmHg, respectively), but there was no significant rise in the group receiving 20 mg/day. Final systolic blood pressure (sitting) was ≥10 mmHg higher at the endpoint than at baseline in 36 and 29% of patients receiving 15 and 20 mg sibutramine, respectively, and in 24% of those given placebo (all differences: NS). For a diastolic blood pressure rise of ≥5 mmHg, the corresponding figures were 43% with 15 mg sibutramine (P < 0.05 vs. placebo), 26% with 20 mg sibutramine (NS vs. placebo), and 25% with placebo.

Blood pressure changes were influenced by weight change. With 15 mg sibutramine, systolic blood pressure did not change significantly in subjects who lost ≥5 or ≥10% weight, whereas the ≥5% responders with 20 mg sibutramine showed a mean placebo-subtracted fall of 4.6 ± 2.0 mmHg (P = 0.053 vs. all placebo subjects). Placebo-treated subjects who lost ≥5% weight showed a systolic decrease of 3.3 ± 1.4 mmHg. For >5% weight loss, mean placebo-subtracted diastolic changes were 2.0 ± 1.5 with 15 mg sibutramine (NS vs. placebo, 1.5 ± 1.0 mmHg) and −0.9 ± 1.4 mmHg (NS vs. placebo) for 20 mg sibutramine. For >10% weight loss, mean placebo-subtracted changes were 1.7 ± 2.2 and 1.0 ± 1.8 mmHg, respectively (both NS vs. placebo).

Pulse rate increased significantly more in both sibutramine groups than with placebo (Table 4). Final pulse rate was ≥10 bpm higher than at baseline in 17% of placebo-treated patients, significantly fewer (P < 0.01) than with 15 mg (41%) and 20 mg (44%) sibutramine.

Management of type 2 diabetes often fails to meet the stringent treatment targets for glycemia, lipids, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular risk factors. The importance of obesity as a determinant of cardiovascular outcome has generally been neglected, despite accumulating evidence that it plays a crucial role (14,16). In the UKPDS (17), only metformin-treated patients enjoyed a significant reduction in cardiovascular events, whereas those receiving insulin or sulfonylureas did not. Glycemic control was no better with metformin, but weight gain was substantially less (by an average of 4 kg) than with insulin or sulfonylureas. An independent cardioprotective effect of metformin cannot be excluded, but other data suggesting that weight loss reduces cardiovascular risk (18) point to metformin’s anti-obesity action. Unfortunately, obesity is particularly difficult to treat in type 2 diabetic patients (19), as highlighted by the overall failure of our placebo group to lose weight, despite regular dietary and lifestyle advice (Fig. 1).

Here, sibutramine was an effective anti-obesity agent in a substantial proportion of these patients. Average weight loss at 12 months was 5.5 kg with 15 mg sibutramine and 8 kg with 20 mg sibutramine, whereas placebo-treated patients lost no weight at all. Similarly, waist circumference was significantly reduced, by an average of 4.7 cm and 6.6 cm with 15 and 20 mg sibutramine, respectively. The usual tendency of obese type 2 diabetic patients to continue gaining weight is clearly illustrated by the placebo group, of whom 19% gained >2 kg during the 12-month study. Sibutramine treatment significantly prevented weight gain, with only one subject taking 15 mg sibutramine and no subjects taking 20 mg sibutramine gaining >2 kg.

Weight loss of ≥10% confers important metabolic and cardiovascular benefits in obese type 2 diabetic patients (6). This target was achieved by 14 and 27% of subjects taking 15 and 20 mg sibutramine, respectively, but by none given placebo. Loss of ≥5% weight, which may bring lesser benefits to some patients, was achieved by 46 and 65% of subjects taking 15 and 20 mg sibutramine, respectively, but by only 11% with placebo. These outcomes are comparable with those of orlistat in obese type 2 diabetes (11).

Significant improvements in glycemic control accompanied weight loss. With ≥10% weight loss (only achieved in subjects taking sibutramine), mean HbA_1c fell by 1.2% and fasting glucose by 2 mmol/l—effects comparable to those of oral antihyperglycemic agents (20). Lesser improvements were seen with weight loss of 5–10%, but HbA_1c fell by >1% (a recognized efficacy threshold for antidiabetic drugs) in 86% of patients receiving 15 mg sibutramine. In addition, metformin dosage could be reduced in a higher proportion of sibutramine-treated patients because of improved glycemic control. Interestingly, a good glycemic response (HbA_1c decrease >2%) was predicted not only by ≥10% weight loss, but also by an initial HbA_1c of >9.2% (data not shown); thus, poorly controlled obese type 2 diabetic patients may gain the most from weight loss and anti-obesity medication.

Serum lipids showed relatively modest changes with sibutramine treatment and weight loss (Table 3)—notably a 10% rise in HDL cholesterol and a fall in triglycerides that averaged 29% in subjects (sibutramine-treated only) who lost >10% in weight. Lipid changes were generally less impressive than those reported with sibutramine in other populations, for example, the STORM study in nondiabetic obese subjects (21); the fact that our patients were already receiving metformin, which has favorable lipid-modifying effects (15), may partly explain this. Nonetheless, there is now firm evidence that lipid changes of the magnitude seen in our 10% responders will tend to diminish atherogenic risk (22).

Sibutramine was generally well tolerated, with no excess of withdrawals over placebo. Commonly described side effects (dry mouth, constipation, and insomnia) were as previously reported, with no indication that these damaged compliance. Sibutramine’s central sympathomimetic action can increase pulse rate and blood pressure. Hypertension is a particular concern in type 2 diabetes: in the UKPDS, improved blood pressure control (144/82 mmHg) reduced cardiovascular events by 25% as compared with “routine” levels of 154/87 mmHg (23). The risk-benefit balance of interventions that might raise blood pressure must therefore be carefully evaluated. Here, sibutramine tended to increase blood pressure in more patients than placebo, and a few individuals showed marked rises (Fig. 2). This tendency was offset by weight loss; at completion, only 10 (37%) of those subjects losing ≥10% weight showed a rise of ≥5 mmHg in systolic blood pressure.

Our data underscore the common problems of hypertension in obese type 2 diabetic patients. Initially, 32% of our patients had both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings above the American Diabetes Association’s currently recommended levels (135/80 mmHg). Moreover, hypertension progressed in some cases, perhaps after further weight gain or arterial stiffening (24): 39% of our placebo patients showed >5 mmHg increases in systolic pressure during the study, and an additional 11% exceeded both American Diabetes Association thresholds. At present, the balance of risk between increased blood pressure versus the metabolic and other benefits of weight loss cannot be accurately determined. However, modeling the effects of sibutramine in obese type 2 diabetic patients using data from the Framingham (25) and Munster (26) studies suggests that the overall cardiovascular impact of sibutramine is favorable (K. Lauterback, personal communication). Both sibutramine dosages significantly increased heart rate. Tachycardia has also been associated with cardiovascular events (27), but may represent a marker of risk rather an independent pathophysiological factor; no clinical trials have yet specifically assessed the impact of tachycardia or of interventions that lower heart rate.

In conclusion, sibutramine was an effective anti-obesity agent in type 2 diabetic patients, of whom nearly 20% achieved weight loss of ≥10%, and over 50% achieved a loss of ≥5%. Patients losing ≥10% showed improvements in glycemic control that were comparable with those achieved by oral hypoglycemic agents. Thus, sibutramine is a potentially valuable adjunct to the medical management of appropriately selected obese type 2 diabetic patients. Individual responses in weight, HbA_1c, and blood pressure should be carefully evaluated, and long-term treatment should be considered only in subjects who lose >5% weight and whose blood pressure does not rise.

Canada: Ellen Burgess, Ronald Elisioff, Lawrence Leiter, Simon Rabkin, Hugh Tildesley, Gregory Bondy, Stephanie Kaiser, Vincent Woo, and Ehud Ur; Belgium: Andre Scheen, Michel Letiexhe, Isabel Dumont, Luc Van Gaal, Paul Van Crombrugge, Frank Nobels, Gerard Lamberigts, Bart Keymeulen, and Kris Poppe; U.K.: Gareth Williams, Steven McNulty, and Kevin Hardy; France: Marc Leutenegger, Corinne Le Borgne, Reginald Mira, Gérard Cathelineau, Arnaud Cocaul, and Nabil Assad.

This study was sponsored by Abbott Laboratories (formerly Knoll U.K. Limited).

We are very grateful to Christine Greenwood for her customary skill, patience, and good humor in preparing this manuscript.