The usefulness of fenfluramine (F), in association with diet therapy, was investigated in 13 obese noninsulin- dependent diabetic patients with poor diabetes control on a previous sulfonylurea regimen (SU). A double-blind crossover comparison of F and placebo (P) consisted of two 7-wk treatment periods. F was administered in stepwise increased and subsequently reduced doses, while the doses of SU were kept unchanged. There was a significant weight loss in F-treated obese subjects as compared with treatment by P. The fasting levels, and particularly the postprandial blood glucose (BG) levels, were significantly lower during F than during P administration. Serum fasting insulin and blood lactate concentrations remained unchanged during the trial. Serum triglycerides and cholesterol decreased during F administration. HDL-cholesterol and apoprotein A-I increased slightly, while apoprotein B decreased during F, but not during P administration. The effect of fenfluramine on hepatic drug metabolism was assessed by using the antipyrine test. F did not cause significant changes in antipyrine metabolism. Fenfluramine therefore seems to be useful as an adjunct to diet and SU therapy in obese non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.
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Original Articles|
September 01 1981
Fenfluramine Therapy in Non-insulin-dependent Diabetic Patients: Effects on Body Weight, Glucose Homeostasis, Serum Lipoproteins, and Antipyrine Metabolism
P I Salmela;
P I Salmela
Clinical Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu
Finland
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E A Sotaniemi;
E A Sotaniemi
Clinical Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu
Finland
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J Viikari;
J Viikari
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turku
Finland
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T Solakivi-Jaakkola;
T Solakivi-Jaakkola
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tampere
Finland
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P Järvensivu
P Järvensivu
Clinical Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu
Finland
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Address reprint requests to P. I. Salmela, Clinical Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, SF 90220 Oulu 20, Finland.
Citation
P I Salmela, E A Sotaniemi, J Viikari, T Solakivi-Jaakkola, P Järvensivu; Fenfluramine Therapy in Non-insulin-dependent Diabetic Patients: Effects on Body Weight, Glucose Homeostasis, Serum Lipoproteins, and Antipyrine Metabolism. Diabetes Care 1 September 1981; 4 (5): 535–540. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.4.5.535
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