Effect of Acarbose Taken Just before and after a Meal on Plasma Glucose Level in Japanese Healthy Subjects

We studied the effect of a patient forgetting to take acarbose and also investigated whether there is any benefit in taking it within certain time periods after a meal. The subjects consisted of 10 volunteers and the tests were conducted during lunch periods. Over 6 test days the subjects ingested breakfast (100 kcal; carbohydrate 78%) and lunch (624 kcal; carbohydrate 56%) each day. On the first test day, as a control, no acarbose was given. Blood was drawn 7 times to determine the levels of plasma glucose and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) (just before and after a meal, and after 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes, 90 minutes, and 120 minutes after a meal). The same 10 subjects then took 100 mg of acarbose just before a meal, and 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes after starting a meal respectively on different days. The levels of plasma glucose and IRI were measured for the 7 blood drawing times. The levels of plasma glucose of the subjects who took acarbose just before a meal were significantly lower at the 5 times, from just after meal to 90 minutes after starting time of a meal, compared to the controls. The levels of IRI in the subjects who took acarbose just before meals were lower at all times compared to the controls and other intakes. There was no significant difference in the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC0-120) 1of plasma glucose during the 120 minute period after starting a meal between the subjects who took acarbose just before a meal, just after starting a meal, and 30 minutes after starting a meal. It was found that taking acarbose was therefore the most effecctive just before a meal but, if this is forgotten, it can still be effective if taken 15-30 minutes after starting a meal.