Effects of Ipragliflozin on Postprandial Glucose Metabolism and Gut Peptides in Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION: Ipragliflozin is a novel antidiabetic drug that inhibits renal tubular sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ipragliflozin on glucose, insulin, glucagon, and gastrointestinal peptide responses to a meal tolerance test, as well as to investigate the glucose-lowering mechanisms of ipragliflozin. METHODS: Nine Japanese patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus were treated with ipragliflozin (50 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The postprandial profiles of glucose, insulin, glucagon, active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), active glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), ghrelin, and des-acyl ghrelin were measured before and 12 weeks after ipragliflozin treatment. RESULTS: Body weight, body fat mass, systolic blood pressure, and HbA1c and serum uric acid levels were significantly decreased after the treatment. Postprandial glucose and insulin levels were also significantly decreased. Postprandial glucagon increased both before and after ipragliflozin treatment; however, the increment tended to be smaller after treatment. Active GLP-1, active GIP, ghrelin, and des-acyl ghrelin did not change after treatment. CONCLUSION: Ipragliflozin improved glycemic control by reducing body weight, postprandial inappropriate glucagon secretion, and the postprandial insulin requirement. Although this was a short-term study with a small sample size, ipragliflozin may offer benefits for patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN No. 000017195).