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An evaluation of the potential side‐effects of α‐glucosidase inhibitors used for the management of diabetes mellitus
Author(s) -
REUSER A. J. J.,
WISSELAAR H. A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.1994.tb02251.x
Subject(s) - acarbose , postprandial , diabetes mellitus , medicine , type 2 diabetes mellitus , side effect (computer science) , pharmacology , endocrinology , computer science , programming language
Orally taken α‐glucosidase inhibitors are used for the management of diabetes mellitus. These drugs can prevent the postprandial rise of the blood glucose level by inhibiting the enzymatic digestion of carbohydrates in the intestinal lumen. Non‐absorbable inhibitors such as acarbose are expected to function exclusively in the intestine, but absorbable inhibitors such as miglitol may exert an inhibitory effect on non‐intestinal α‐glucosidases present in the various cell types of the body. The potential side‐effects of absorbable inhibitors are evaluated in this literature review. It is concluded that there is little risk of inducing unwanted side‐effects when miglitol is taken in an oral dose of approximately 1 mg kg −1 body weight. The use of absorbable inhibitors is, however, not advised in case of kidney dysfunction.