Orlistat controls the progression of pre-diabetics to diabetes

Known for its weight loss potential, Orlistat can also be suggested for delay of progression from prediabetes to diabetes, as per recent research published in Medicine, Baltimore Journal.

Gao, Zhao and colleagues performed a meta-analysis and systematic review to explore the efficacy and safety of Orlistat in terms of managing the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes (T2D).

For relevant randomized trials, the data from various sources such as Embase, VIP, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wan-Fang was searched. They analyzed the impact of Orlistat on glucose tolerance and glycemic status in prediabetics.

After an initial screening of 18 articles, only 6 studies were considered based on the inclusion criteria. It comprised a total of 1076 participants aged >18 years (532 control group participants and 544 experimental group participants). The results pointed out that Orlistat could reduce fasting blood glucose or sugar levels and post-prandial glucose levels at 2 hours. It can also prevent the progression of impaired glucose tolerance in patients with T2DM and reverse the impaired glucose tolerance, thus delaying its progression.

The researchers concluded Orlistat to be beneficial in reducing fasting blood glucose and deferring diabetes progression along with weight management. However, high-quality studies are needed for more reliable results.