Effects of pre-meal versus post-meal administration of miglitol on plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucosedependent insulinotropic polypeptide levels in healthy men

Abstract

We previously reported that the administration of miglitol after a meal was equally effective as administration before a meal. Since glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) reportedly promotes islet cell growth and inhibits apoptosis in animal models, an increase in GLP-1 secretion might also be beneficial for islet cell function and mass in humans. Miglitol reportedly enhances GLP-1 responses and reduces glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). However, whether the effect of miglitol on these incretins is comparable when miglitol is administered before or after a meal remains uncertain. Here, we compared the effects of the pre-meal versus post-meal administration of miglitol on the plasma active GLP-1 and total GIP levels in healthy men. Miglitol was administered according to three different intake schedules in each subject (control: no drug, intake 1: drug administered just before a meal [50 mg]; intake 2: drug administered at 30 min after the start of a meal [50 mg]). The area under the curve (AUC) of the plasma GLP-1 level for the intake 1 group was significantly greater than those of the control and intake 2 groups. The AUCs of the plasma GIP level for the intake 1 and 2 groups were significantly smaller than that of the control. The administration of miglitol just before a meal, rather than after a meal, is recommended in view of the up-regulation of GLP-1.