Effect of 3-month repeated administration of miglitol on vascular endothelial function in patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

Repeated postprandial hyperglycemia may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis by suppressing vascular endothelial function. Although miglitol suppresses the elevation of blood glucose levels shortly after a meal more than other α-glucosidase inhibitors, the effect of 3-month repeated administration of miglitol on endothelial dysfunction is unknown. Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease were enrolled in the present study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, the first treated with miglitol and the second with voglibose for 3 months. Blood chemistry (lipid and blood glucose profiles, glycosylated hemoglobin, 1,5-anhydroglucitol, serum insulin levels, and C-reactive protein) and flow-mediated dilatation were measured at the beginning and end of the trial period. Patient characteristics and blood chemistry of the 2 groups were similar at the beginning of the trial. At the end of the trial, glycosylated hemoglobin decreased in the 2 groups, but the improvements in 1,5-anhydroglucitol in the miglitol group were significantly higher than in the voglibose group. Insulin resistance index, C-reactive protein, and percentage flow-mediated dilatation were also improved in the miglitol group but not in the voglibose group. In conclusion, 3-month repeated administration of miglitol improved vascular endothelial dysfunction by strongly suppressing postprandial hyperglycemia. Miglitol may have antiatherogenic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease.