A review of the metabolic effects of sibutramine

Background. Obesity is associated with an increased incidence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and coronary artery disease. Current management strategies of obesity include lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy. Sibutramine is a drug with established efficacy in weight reduction and maintenance of weight loss. It reduces food intake and attenuates the fall in metabolic rate associated with weight loss. Objective: To review the metabolic effects associated with sibutramine use. Methods: Relevant articles were identified through a Medline search (up to December 2004). Results: Weight loss with sibutramine treatment is associated with improved insulin sensitivity and a fall in glycosylated haemoglobin levels in type 2 diabetic patients. In most trials sibutramine exerted favourable effects on lipids, especially on high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as on the total:HDL cholesterol ratio. Sibutramine also lowers serum uric acid concentrations. Furthermore, this drug seems to favourably influence adipocytokines; it reduces serum leptin and resistin levels and increases adiponectin levels. Sibutramine also exerts a beneficial effect on hyperandrogenaemia in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Preliminary findings also suggest that weight loss following treatment with sibutramine is useful in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Conclusion: Weight loss following sibutramine administration is associated with several favourable metabolic effects.