CLINICAL RESEARCH
The effect of orlistat versus metformin on body composition and insulin resistance in obese premenopausal women: 3-month randomized prospective open-label study
 
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Submission date: 2016-02-21
 
 
Final revision date: 2016-06-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2016-06-19
 
 
Online publication date: 2016-08-29
 
 
Publication date: 2017-06-08
 
 
Arch Med Sci 2017;13(4):725-731
 
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Introduction: Our aim was to evaluate the effects of metformin and orlistat on body composition and glucose–insulin homeostasis in obese premenopausal women.
Material and methods: Seventy-three obese premenopausal Caucasian women aged 32.4 ±8.3 years were treated with either metformin (1000 mg/day; n = 37) or orlistat (360 mg/day; n = 36). Anthropometric parameters were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Glucose tolerance, using the oral glucose tolerance test; insulin resistance, using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR); and insulin sensitivity, using the Matsuda insulin sensitivity index (ISI Matsuda), were assessed at the commencement of the study and after 3 months.
Results: Those treated with orlistat showed greater weight loss (–9.4 ±2.3 vs. –4.9 ±1.3 kg, p < 0.05) and decrease of fat mass (–5.4 ±3.0 vs. –3.5 ±0.7 kg, p < 0.05)than those treated with metformin. The percentage of android and gynoid fat deposits was reduced in both groups; however, a greater decrease in android fat was observed in those treated with metformin. Improvement in ISI Matsuda and post-load insulin were similar in both groups. High initial post-load insulin and low ISI Matsuda corresponded with reductions in total fat, trunk fat, and waist circumference in both groups, and a decrease in android fat in those treated with metformin.
Conclusions: Orlistat treatment resulted in greater weight loss and improvement in body composition; metformin treatment resulted in a reduction of android fat. Both drugs produced a comparable improvement in insulin/glucose homeostasis. Overall, insulin-resistant women showed improvement with treatment, irrespective of which drug was used.
eISSN:1896-9151
ISSN:1734-1922
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