Administration of the α-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose (BAY g 5421), to rats together with a sucrose load results in a marked retardation of sucrose digestion. The carbohydrate content of the small intestine is dose dependently increased; the time needed for the absorption is doubled. In the large intestine significant amounts of carbohydrate can be found only after administration of high doses of acarbose (2–4 mg/kg p.o.). In oral sucrose and maltose loading tests the blood glucose increase is dose dependently reduced by acarbose (ED50, 1 or 12 mg/kg, respectively). In perfused jejunal loops of rats, acarbose inhibits the absorption of sucrose (4 g/l) and maltose (1 and 2g/l), the IC50 values being 3.2, 36, and 57 μg/ml, respectively. The data indicate that acarbose effectively inhibits sucrose digestion. It is 10–20 times less effective with maltose as a substrate. Slight malabsorption is induced by acarbose only in doses higher than the ED50.

Journal Section:
Original Paper
Keywords:
Acarbose (BAY g 5421), α-Glucosidase inhibitors, Maltose digestion, Sucrose digestion
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© 1982 S. Karger AG, Basel
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1982
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