Effects of colesevelam on glucose absorption and hepatic/peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Diabetes, obesity & metabolism obesity & metabolism, 2012-01, Vol.14 (1), p.40-46
• Main Authors: Henry, R. R., Aroda, V. R., Mudaliar, S., Garvey, W. T., Chou, H. S., Jones, M. R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Allylamine - analogs & derivatives; Allylamine - metabolism; Allylamine - therapeutic use; Anticholesteremic Agents - metabolism; Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; bile acid sequestrant; Blood Glucose - drug effects; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL - drug effects; colesevelam; Colesevelam Hydrochloride; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Double-Blind Method; Female; Glucose; Glucose tolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; Glycated Hemoglobin A - drug effects; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Hemoglobin; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; insulin sensitivity; Liver; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Sensitivity analysis; Sulfonylurea Compounds - metabolism; Sulfonylurea Compounds - therapeutic use; type 2 diabetes mellitus; United States - epidemiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1462-8902; 1463-1326
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2011.01486.x

Aim: Colesevelam lowers glucose and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study examined the mechanisms by which colesevelam might affect glucose control. Methods: In this 12‐week, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, subjects with type 2 diabetes and haemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) ≥7.5% on either stable diet and exercise or sulphonylurea therapy were randomized to colesevelam 3.75 g/day (n = 16) or placebo (n = 14). Hepatic/peripheral insulin sensitivity was evaluated at baseline and at week 12 by infusion of 3H‐labelled glucose followed by a 2‐step hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp. Two 75‐g oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were conducted at baseline, one with and one without co‐administration of colesevelam. A final OGTT was conducted at week 12. HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were evaluated pre‐ and post‐treatment. Results: Treatment with colesevelam, compared to placebo, had no significant effects on basal endogenous glucose output, response to insulin or on maximal steady‐state glucose disposal rate. At baseline, co‐administration of colesevelam with oral glucose reduced total area under the glucose curve (AUCg) but not incremental AUCg. At week 12, neither total AUCg nor incremental AUCg were changed from pre‐treatment values in either group. Post‐load insulin levels increased with colesevelam at 30 and 120 min, but these changes in total area under the insulin curve (AUCi) and incremental AUCi did not differ between groups. Both HbA1c and FPG improved with colesevelam, but treatment differences were not significant. Conclusions: Colesevelam does not affect hepatic or peripheral insulin sensitivity and does not directly affect glucose absorption.