The effect of acarbose treatment on anthropometric indices in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Background

Based on available data, acarbose may have an effect on body weight reduction. Nevertheless, the results were inconsistent and inconclusive. Therefore, the purpose of this review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) was to assess the existing data as thoroughly as possible.

Methods

The relevant keywords were used to search the online databases to identify RCTs that examined the effect of acarbose on body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) up to April 2023. A random-effects model was applied to examine the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Seventy-one RCTs with 73 effect sizes were included in this meta-analytic work. The effect sizes for body weight, BMI, and WC were 45, 47, and 9, respectively. The pooled analysis demonstrated significant decrease in body weight (WMD = −1.21 kg; 95%CI, −1.67, −0.75; p<0.001, BMI (WMD = −0.67 kg/m²; 95%CI, −0.91, −0.44; p<0.001) and WC (WMD = −1.39 cm; 95%CI, −0.54 to 0.16; p=0.014) after acarbose treatment. We did not find any significant nonlinear relationship between dose (mg/day) and duration (weeks) (coefficients = −0.64, p=0.258) of intervention and changes in body weight, BMI and WC.

Conclusions

Acarbose treatment decreased body weight, BMI, and WC in adults. Further research, including well-designed RCTs and mechanistic studies is required to understand the exact effect of acarbose treatment on body weight in adults.