Evaluating the Effects of Acarbose on Anthropometry Indexes and Metabolic Markers in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome in Comparison to Placebo, in Isfahan City, Iran

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MTS) is a group of metabolic abnormalities that occur simultaneously. Acarbose is an anti-diabetes medication that studies showed its effects on improving lipid profile, blood sugar, insulin resistance, and weight loss. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acarbose on anthropometry indexes and metabolic markers in patients with metabolic syndrome in comparison to placebo, in Isfahan City, Iran. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial study on patients with metabolic syndrome who referred to Sedighe Tahere Research Institute. Patients were randomly divided into two groups treated with acarbose or placebo for 6 months. Before and after intervention, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured, and the level of fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar (30 minutes, and 1 and 2 hours), cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), liver enzymes, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin (fast, and 30 minutes, and 1 and 2 hours postprandial), and insulin resistance index (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance or HOMA-IR) were evaluated and then compared. Findings: In this study, 74 patients with metabolic syndrome with mean age of 39.9 ± 8.5 years were evaluated, of them, 27.02% were men. The mean weight (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.001), hip circumference (P < 0.001), and 1-hour (P < 0.010) and 2-hour postprandial blood sugar (P < 0.001) decreased significantly in acarbose group, the mean level of HDL significantly increased (P = 0.020), and HOMA-IR significantly decreased (P = 0.020). Other variables did not show significant differences. Conclusion: Acarbose can reduce weight and abdominal obesity, and improve postprandial blood sugar level, HDL level, and insulin resistance status.