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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Mar-Apr;61(2):188-192.
doi: 10.1590/2359-3997000000242. Epub 2017 Feb 13.

Effect of diacerein as an add-on to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and inadequate glycemic control

Miriam Méndez-Del Villar  1 , Esperanza Martínez-Abundis  1 , Rafael O Preciado-Márquez  1 , Manuel González-Ortiz  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of diacerein as an add-on to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and inadequate glycemic control

Miriam Méndez-Del Villar et al. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of diacerein as an add-on to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and inadequate glycemic control.

Materials and methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out on 12 patients with T2DM and inadequate glycemic control [glycated hemoglobin A1c (A1C) ≥ 7%] with metformin as monotherapy (≥ 1500 mg per day) for at least the previous 90 days. Fasting and postprandial glucose were measured before and after the pharmacological intervention. A1C, lipid profile, creatinine and uric acid were also evaluated. After randomization, all patients continued with their dose of metformin. Six subjects received placebo and the other six volunteers took diacerein. Data were tested using the Wilcoxon signed-rank, Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests. The Institutional Ethics Committee approved the study protocol.

Results: After 90 days of diacerein as an add-on to metformin, there was a significant decrease in fasting glucose (196 ± 79 vs. 149 ± 70 mg/dL, p < 0.05), postprandial glucose (262 ± 99 vs. 187 ± 70 mg/dlL, p < 0.05) and A1C (8.4 ± 2.0 vs. 6.7 ± 1.7 %, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Diacerein as an add-on to metformin in patients with T2DM improved their glycemic control.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Mechanism of action of metformin and diacerein for glucose improvement (Ref. 6-9).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Fasting and postprandial glucose differences before and after the interventions.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Glycated hemoglobin A1c differences before and after the interventions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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