High viscosity hydroxypropylmethylcellulose reduces postprandial blood glucose concentrations in NIDDM patients

Abstract

The ability of high viscosity hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) to reduce postprandial glucose concentrations was assessed in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) and healthy volunteers. The study design consisted of a two-way crossover, single-dose administration of 10 g prehydrated high viscosity HPMC, or placebo, with a standard carbohydrate-rich meal. In patients with NIDDM, HPMC reduced blood glucose concentrations at the 60-, 75-, 90-, 120- and 150-min sampling intervals, with an average reduction in the maximum postprandial blood glucose concentration, Cmax, of 24% (P Tmax, remained unchanged. The area under the blood concentration versus time plot, AUC0-6h, was reduced by an average of 15% (P Cmax, Tmax and AUC0-6h) were unchanged. These results suggest that alterations in the blood glucose profile are mediated by luminal events rather than by changes in hormonal response. In contrast to the NIDDM patients, neither the pharmacokinetic parameters nor the blood glucose concentrations at specific sampling times were significantly affected by the coadministration of HPMC in healthy volunteers. Overall, the results of this study suggest that HPMC may be a useful adjunct in the management of NIDDM.