The aim of the study was to assess the adjunctive effects of
orlistat on
weight loss and the influence of
weight reduction on glycaemic control in
overweight Chinese female type 2 diabetic patients. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 12-week study was conducted. Chinese female type 2 diabetic patients,
overweight (body mass index > 25 kg/m(2)), poorly controlled
glucose levels [glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) > 8%], were randomly assigned to two groups. In addition to their oral hypoglycaemic agents (maximal doses of sulphonylureas and
metformin), one group (
n = 30) received a placebo and the other (
n = 30) received
orlistat 120 mg t.i.d. for 12 weeks. Comparing the changes that occurred after 12 weeks in the
orlistat and placebo groups, the former showed significantly greater reduction in bodyweight (2.5 vs. 0.4 kg; p < 0.05), fasting plasma
insulin level (p < 0.01), 2-h postprandial
blood glucose after
glucose challenge (p < 0.01),
insulin resistance (p < 0.01), HbA1c (p < 0.05), total
cholesterol and
triglyceride levels (p < 0.05, respectively). No significant differences were found between treatment groups in blood pressure and heart rate. The addition of
orlistat to oral hypoglycaemic agents resulted in a significant
weight reduction and improvement of metabolic control in
overweight Chinese female type 2 diabetic patients.