Oral Acarbose Inhibits Baseline Salivary Amylase and Blunts Early Postprandial Glycemia: Randomized Cross-Over Study.

In 30 seconds

This single-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized cross-over trial examined whether oral acarbose inhibition of salivary α-amylase affects postprandial blood glucose in 15 young, healthy women. Participants completed four conditions involving placebo, acarbose alone, or rice consumed with 50 mg or 100 mg of acarbose. Peak glucose change occurred at 30 minutes with placebo and acarbose alone, and at 60 minutes with rice plus acarbose. At 30 minutes, glucose change was significantly lower with rice plus either acarbose dose than with acarbose alone (both P <.05); glucose area under the curve did not differ between those conditions.

Key findings

• Peak ΔBG occurred at 30 min in placebo and acarbose-alone trials, and at 60 min with starch plus 50 mg acarbose.
• At 30 min, ΔBG was lower with starch plus 50 mg or 100 mg acarbose than with acarbose alone (both P <.05).
• BG areas under the curve did not differ between acarbose alone and starch plus 50 mg acarbose.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that oral acarbose can inhibit salivary α-amylase and alter the timing and early magnitude of the postprandial glucose rise in healthy participants. The absence of a difference in glucose area under the curve between two conditions indicates that an early glucose effect does not necessarily imply a change in overall postprandial exposure.

What to keep in mind

The trial included only 15 young, healthy women, limiting how broadly the findings can be applied to other populations.