Effects of food thickeners on the inhibitory effect of voglibose oral-disintegrating tablets on post-prandial elevation of blood sugar levels

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of food thickeners on the pharmacodynamics of voglibose, an α-glucosidase inhibitor. The pharmacodynamics of voglibose were examined in an open-label study in 9 healthy participants after the ingestion of a single oral dose of a voglibose oral-disintegrating tablet, with and without food thickener immersion. The area under the incremental blood sugar concentration-time curve was larger and the rate of increments in the blood sugar concentration was higher with the voglibose oral-disintegrating tablets immersed in the food thickener than with the tablets that were not immersed. Immersing the voglibose oral-disintegrating tablets in the food thickener possibly delayed their disintegration rate. This suggests that commercially available food thickeners may be associated with changes in the disintegration of voglibose oral-disintegrating tablets and should therefore be used carefully in certain clinical situations.