Dexfenfluramine in Treatment of Juvenile
Obesity
Weight Loss Study Aim
The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of dexfenfluramine
for reducing cardiovascular risk factors and improving compliance towards
diet in a group of young patients hospitalized for essential obesity of
high degree (BMI > or = 35).
103 adolescents (mean age 15.4 +/- 0.2)
participated in a nine-week randomized double-blind study of dexfenfluramine
versus placebo. All patients received a VLCD (2,512 kJ/day = 600 kcal/day)
for two months. In basal conditions, and after 30 and 60 days of treatment,
anthropometric variables (height, weight, BMI, and W/H) and cardiovascular
risk factors (blood glucose concentration, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol,
triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) were monitored.
Modifications in hunger and satiety were also assessed.
Weight Loss Study Results
During the treatment period, both the dexfenfluramine group and the placebo
group presented a similar pattern of weight loss. No important side-effects
were recorded in either group. Blood pressure and metabolic markers decreased
significantly in both groups. Earlier reductions in total cholesterol
and diastolic blood pressure in dexfenfluramine -treated subjects were
the only significant differences observed as compared to the patients
receiving placebo. However, after 60 days, these values were similar in
the two groups. As far as non-parametric data are concerned, dexfenfluramine
determined a reduction in hunger and an increase in satiety in a significantly
higher number of subjects than did the placebo, not only after 30 days
of treatment (92.8 percent vs. 55.3 percent and 92.8 percent vs. 45.5
percent, respectively), but also after two months of treatment (97.8 percent
vs. 67.4 percent and 97.8 percent vs. 45.8 percent, respectively).
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Weight Loss Study Conclusions
These findings demonstrate that dexfenfluramine represents a useful
support in the treatment of juvenile obesity and might ensure a
better individual compliance towards restrictive diets, particularly
in the initial "critical" stages, in the absence of important
side-effects.
Source: Grugni G, Guzzaloni G, Ardizzi
A, Moro D, Morabito F. Divisione di Auxologia, Istituto Scientifico,
Ospedale S. Giuseppe, Verbania Intra, Fondazione Centro Auxologico
Italiano. 1997
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