Source: DGNews  |  Posted 9 years ago

By Larry Schuster
Special to DG News

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL -- August 27, 2002 -- The modest weight loss induced by the obesity drug Xenical appears to delay onset of diabetes among obese patients at risk of developing the disease, according to study results released Monday.

Also known as orlistat, the drug appeared to cut in half the risk of diabetes in obese patients who had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) over a four-year period, researchers announced at the 9th International Congress on Obesity. In the study, the first to look at the capacity of a weight-loss drug to prevent type 2 diabetes, the reduction in risk appeared to beyond what would be expected by lifestyle changes alone.

The four-year XENDOS study enrolled 3304 obese patients with body mass at least 30 kg/m2 at 22 centres in Sweden. Of the total, 1649 were randomized to receive orlistat 120 mg. plus a reduced fat diet and lifestyle modification, and 1655 received placebo and the diet and modifications alone.

At four years, the cumulative incidence of diabetes, as determined by a two-hour oral glucose tolerance test, was significantly lower in the orlistat group (6.2 percent) compared to the placebo group (9 percent; p = 0.0032).

Principle investigator Dr. Lars Sjostrom, of Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, said the drug