EFFECTS OF BENFLUOREX ON INSULIN RESISTANCE AND LIPID-METABOLISM IN OBESE TYPE-II DIABETIC-PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE - To evaluate the change in lipids and insulin sensitivity in 10 obese type II diabetic patients after treatment with benfluorex or placebo for 2 wk. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - The study had a double-blind, crossover design. Insulin sensitivity was measured with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique at two different insulin infusion rates: 0.05 (clamp 1) and 0.10 U . kg-1 . h-1 (clamp 2). RESULTS - Subanalysis of the glucose infusion rate under steady-state conditions in the last 30 min of clamp 2 yielded a glucose infusion rate of 5.36 and 3.87 mmol . kg-1 . min-1 after benfluorex and placebo, respectively (P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS - Benfluorex increases insulin sensitivity in obese type II diabetic patients.