Diabetes Care, Vol 20, Issue 11 1697-1701, Copyright © 1997 by American Diabetes Association
Effects of a quick-release form of bromocriptine (Ergoset) on fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, lipid, and lipoprotein concentrations in obese nondiabetic hyperinsulinemic women
V Kamath, CN Jones, JC Yip, BB Varasteh, AH Cincotta, GM Reaven and YD Chen
Department of Medicine, Stanford University, School of Medicine, CA 94305-5013, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect on various aspects of carbohydrate and
lipid metabolism of administering a quick-release formulation of
bromocriptine (Ergoset) to obese, nondiabetic, hyperinsulinemic women.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Hourly concentrations of prolactin, glucose,
insulin, free fatty acid (FFA), and triglyceride were measured for 24 h
before and after approximately 8 weeks of treatment with Ergoset. In
addition, fasting lipid and lipoprotein concentrations and the steady-state
plasma glucose (SSPG) concentration in response to a continuous infusion of
somatostatin, insulin, and glucose were determined before and after Ergoset
administration. RESULTS: Circulating prolactin concentrations were
dramatically decreased (P < 0.001) following treatment, associated with
a significant fall (P < 0.05) in 24-h-long plasma glucose, FFA, and
triglyceride concentrations. Neither circulating plasma insulin
concentrations nor the ability of insulin to mediate glucose disposal
changed with treatment. Finally, fasting total cholesterol fell (P <
0.05) and the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol decreased (P = 0.06) in
association with Ergoset treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that significant
metabolic improvement was seen in the obese nondiabetic hyperinsulinemic
women studied suggests that Ergoset could be of therapeutic benefit in
clinical conditions of hyperglycemia and/or dyslipidemia.