Diabetes Metab J.  2016 Jun;40(3):240-247. 10.4093/dmj.2016.40.3.240.

Effects of Rebamipide on Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Park S
• Park SY
• Kim YJ
• Hong SM
• Chon S
• Oh S
• Woo JT
• Kim SW
• Kim YS
• Rhee SY

• KMID: 2308632
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2016.40.3.240

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Rebamipide is an effective gastric cytoprotective agent, but there are few data on its usefulness in T2DM. The aim of this study is to evaluate the improvement of GI symptoms after rebamipide treatment in patients with T2DM.
METHODS
Patients with T2DM and atypical GI symptoms were enrolled. They took rebamipide (100 mg thrice daily) for 12 weeks and filled out the diabetes bowel symptom questionnaire (DBSQ) before and after rebamipide treatment. The DBSQ consisted of 10 questions assessing the severity of GI symptoms by a 1 to 6 scoring system. Changes in the DBSQ scores before and after rebamipide treatment were analyzed to evaluate any improvements of GI symptoms.
RESULTS
A total of 107 patients were enrolled, and 84 patients completed the study. The mean age was 65.0±7.8, 26 patients were male (24.8%), the mean duration of T2DM was 14.71±9.12 years, and the mean glycosylated hemoglobin level was 6.97%±0.82%. The total DBSQ score was reduced significantly from 24.9±8.0 to 20.4±7.3 before and after rebamipide treatment (P<0.001). The DBSQ scores associated with reflux symptoms, indigestion, nausea or vomiting, abdominal bloating or distension, peptic ulcer, abdominal pain, and constipation were improved after rebamipide treatment (P<0.05). However, there were no significant changes in symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, and anal incontinence. No severe adverse events were reported throughout the study.
CONCLUSION
Rebamipide treatment for 12 weeks improved atypical GI symptoms in patients with T2DM.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Gastrointestinal diseases; Rebamipide

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Constipation
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*
Diarrhea
Dyspepsia
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Male
Nausea
Peptic Ulcer
Vomiting

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Patients of the study.

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  Fig. 2 Changes of the diabetes bowel symptom questionnaire (DBSQ) scores before and after rebamipide treatment (Tx). aP<0.05.

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  Fig. 3 Comparisons of the diabetes bowel symptom questionnaire (DBSQ) score before and after rebamipide treatment (Tx), with respect to (A) sex, (B) age, (C) duration of mellitus duration (DM), (D) glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, and (E) body mass index (BMI). Paired t-test for paired values.

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