Comparison of orlistat treatment and placebo in obese type 2 diabetic patients

AIM: To evaluate the effects of 1-year treatment with orlistat compared with placebo on different inflammatory parameters in type 2 obese diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-four type 2 diabetic patients were randomized to take orlistat 120 mg three times a day or placebo for 12 months. We evaluated at baseline and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months: leptin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, adiponectin (ADN), vaspin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), body weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, glycemic profile, fasting plasma insulin (FPI) and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: Regarding inflammatory parameters, there was a significant improvement of ADN and TNF-alpha, and a faster decrease of leptin and HS-CRP in the orlistat group compared with the control group. We also recorded a significant reduction of body weight and BMI with orlistat, but not with placebo. A faster improvement of glycemic profile and FPI was obtained with orlistat compared with the controls. Also, there was a significant reduction of lipid profile with orlistat, not reached with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Orlistat was more effective than placebo in ameliorating inflammatory parameters such as ADN and TNF-alpha, and anthropometric parameters.