J Korean Diabetes Assoc.  2005 Jul;29(4):344-351.

Effect of Pinitol on Glucose Metabolism and Adipocytokines in Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Kim MJ
• Yoo KH
• Park HS
• Chung SM
• Chin CJ
• Choi YS
• Chung CH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pinitol(3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol) has been identified in putative insulin mediator fractions possessing hypoglycemic activity, and appears to act downstream in the insulin-signaling pathway to mimic the effects of insulin. We evaluated the effect of pinitol therapy in type 2 diabetic patients who were poorly controlled with hypoglycemic drugs such as sulfonylurea, metformin and/or insulin.
METHODS
Twenty type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this our study. The fasting glucose and c-peptide, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-and LDL-cholesterols were checked before and after treatment with 20mg.kg(-1).day(-1) pinitol for twelve weeks. All subjects continued their current medications during the study. Adipocytokines, such as adiponectin, leptin, free fatty acid and CRP, were checked before and after the pinitol treatment.
RESULTS
After the pinitol treatment, the fasting and post-prandial glucose levels and hemoglobin A1c were significantly decreased(P<0.05). The fasting serum adiponectin, leptin, free fatty acid and CRP levels remained unchanged after the pinitol treatment. In the non-responder groups, the serum c-peptide levels were higher than those in the responder groups.
CONCLUSION
Twelve weeks of pinitol treatment altered glucose metabolism, but not the lipid profiles or adipocytokine levels. Additional research will be required are needed to define the physiological and potential therapeutic effects of pinitol.

Keyword

Diabetes Mellitus; Pinitol; Adipocytokine

MeSH Terms

Adipokines*
Adiponectin
C-Peptide
Cholesterol
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
Fasting
Glucose*
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents
Insulin
Leptin
Metabolism*
Metformin
Triglycerides
Adipokines
Adiponectin
C-Peptide
Cholesterol
Glucose
Hypoglycemic Agents
Insulin
Leptin
Metformin