Comparison of glucose lowering effect of metformin and acarbose in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metformin is the first-line oral hypoglycemic agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus recommended by international guidelines. However, little information exists comparing it with acarbose which is also commonly used in China. This study expanded knowledge by combining direct and indirect evidence to ascertain the glucose lowering effects of both drugs.

Methods

PubMed (1980- December 2013) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases (1994-January 2014) were systematically searched for eligible randomized controlled trials from Chinese and English literatures. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the glucose lowering effects of metformin vs. acarbose, or either of them vs. common comparators (placebo or sulphonylureas), using random- and fixed-effect models

SUBMITTER: Gu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4427275 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature