This study was designed to examine the therapeutic effect of acarbose on serum triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid   (FFA),very low-density lipoprotein(VLDL) and chylomicron(CM) in the meal tolerance test (MTT) before and after acarbose  treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2).

    Effects of acarbose on postprandial lipid metebolism were examined in DM 2 patients. The subjects with               normtriglyceridaemia (TG≤1.7mmol/l, n=60) were divided to three groups (A, B and C), and DM 2 patients with             hypertriglyceridaemia (TG>1.7mmol/l, n=20) were designated group D. Group A was a control, and group B was designed to   examine the one-dose effect of acarbose (100 mg) on lipid levels in MTT using the balanced food of 400 kcal. In groups C and D, acarbose 300 mg/day was administered for 8 weeks, and MTT with the one-dose acarbose administration was performed. We determined the levels of fasting and postprandial levels of glucose, insulin, FFA and TG-rich lipoproteins such as CM and VLDL.

    Acarbose treatment lowered plasma glucose levels and insulin secretion. In comprison among study groups A, B and C,  acarbose significantly lowered serum TG levels in postprandial state.In group D,after the 8-week acarbose administration, fasting or postprandial FFA, TG and VLDL levels were also lowered. Interestingly, postprandial increasing in CM was      suppressed by acarbose administration in group B, C or D.

    Acarbose lowers postprandial TG and CM levels in DM 2 with either normotrglyceridaemia or hypertriglyceridaemia.     Improvement of insulin resistance with acarbose may also reduce fasting TG levels in DM 2 with hypertriglyceridaemia.    Acarbose is a beneficial therapeutic agent to reduce TG levels in DM 2 patients, thereby leading to suppression of       cardiovascular events.