Evidence map›Metformin × glycemic control›PMID 21510461›Full record

Trial reportThe Journal of the Association of Physicians of India2010

A prospective, parallel group, open-labeled, comparative, multi-centric, active controlled study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and benefits of fixed dose combination of acarbose and metformin versus metformin alone in type 2 diabetes.

S Jayaram, R S Hariharan, R Madhavan, I Periyandavar, S S Samra

Abstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed
In one paragraph

Trial report in The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 2010. The graph read 6 numbers from its abstract, feeding 2 cells of the map: it . Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

6numbers the graph read from it
2cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
-28.30 · no effect
Glycemic controlfavours the treatment · head-to-head · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
decrease -19.4p < 0.0001
In the acarbose plus metformin group fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased from a baseline of 158.85 +/- 18.14 mg/dl to 113.55 +/- 19.38 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 45.30 +/- 15.30 mg/dl) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group fasting blood glucose decreased from a baseline of 158.31 +/- 26.53 mg/dl to 130.55 +/- 28.31 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 27.76 +/- 22.91 mg/dl) at 12 weeks.
FeedsMetformin×glycemic controlOther glucose-lowering×glycemic control
Glycemic controlfavours the comparator · head-to-head · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
decrease -28.3p < 0.0001
In the acarbose plus metformin group fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased from a baseline of 158.85 +/- 18.14 mg/dl to 113.55 +/- 19.38 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 45.30 +/- 15.30 mg/dl) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group fasting blood glucose decreased from a baseline of 158.31 +/- 26.53 mg/dl to 130.55 +/- 28.31 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 27.76 +/- 22.91 mg/dl) at 12 weeks.
FeedsMetformin×glycemic controlOther glucose-lowering×glycemic control

Read, but not usablea number the graph found but could not read as for or against

Glycemic controlcomparator not stated · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
decrease -0.85p < 0.0001
In the acarbose plus metformin group glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased from a baseline of 9.47 +/- 0.69% to 7.71 +/- 0.85% (p < 0.0001) (% decrease of 1.76 +/- 1.11) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group HbAlc decreased from a baseline of 9.32 +/- 0.65% to 8.26 +/- 0.68% (p < 0.0001) (% decrease of 1.06 +/- 0.66) at 12 weeks.
FeedsMetformin×glycemic controlOther glucose-lowering×glycemic control
Glycemic controlcomparator not stated · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
decrease -0.68p < 0.0001
In the acarbose plus metformin group glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased from a baseline of 9.47 +/- 0.69% to 7.71 +/- 0.85% (p < 0.0001) (% decrease of 1.76 +/- 1.11) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group HbAlc decreased from a baseline of 9.32 +/- 0.65% to 8.26 +/- 0.68% (p < 0.0001) (% decrease of 1.06 +/- 0.66) at 12 weeks.
FeedsMetformin×glycemic controlOther glucose-lowering×glycemic control
Glycemic controlcomparator not stated · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
decrease -31.4p < 0.0001
In the acarbose plus metformin group postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) decreased from a baseline of 264.65 +/- 34.03 mg/dl to 173.22 +/- 31.40 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 91.43 +/- 28.65 mg/dl) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group PPBG decreased from a baseline of 253.56 +/- 36.28 mg/dl to 205.36 +/- 39.49 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 48.20 +/- 32.72 mg/dl) at 12 weeks.
FeedsMetformin×glycemic controlOther glucose-lowering×glycemic control
Glycemic controlcomparator not stated · t2dfeeds 2 cells of the map
decrease -39.5p < 0.0001
In the acarbose plus metformin group postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) decreased from a baseline of 264.65 +/- 34.03 mg/dl to 173.22 +/- 31.40 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 91.43 +/- 28.65 mg/dl) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group PPBG decreased from a baseline of 253.56 +/- 36.28 mg/dl to 205.36 +/- 39.49 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 48.20 +/- 32.72 mg/dl) at 12 weeks.
FeedsMetformin×glycemic controlOther glucose-lowering×glycemic control

clause the extractor read what became the number

2 · Its place on the map

Where it lands on the map

Rows are treatments, columns are outcomes. The coloured squares are the cells this paper feeds, coloured by the vote it casts there. Click one to jump to what this paper adds to it.

supports the treatmentfavours the comparatorno clear differenceread, but no usable result
3 · What it changes

What it adds to each cell

For every cell the paper feeds: the belief in the claim with and without this paper, and this paper's estimate drawn against every other readable study in the cell. The ringed dot is this paper.

Metformin×glycemic control

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

40 readable studies in this cell: 41 favour the treatment, 13 find no difference, 7 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.84replicated · 32 families support, 6 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
0 · no effect
This paper · 2010
decrease -19.4
NCT017190031,413 enrolled · 2012
Adjusted mean -0.72-0.95 to -0.48
NCT018093271,186 enrolled · 2013
Δ -0.40-0.59 to -0.21
NCT022730501,136 enrolled · 2014
Δ -0.89-1.08 to -0.69
NCT008598981,093 enrolled · 2009
Δ -0.53-0.74 to -0.32
The study to understand the genetics of the acute response to metformi…PMID 25812009 · 1,033 enrolled · 2008
Δ -0.85-43.8 to 26.7
NCT00643851994 enrolled · 2008
Δ -0.86-1.11 to -0.62
NCT01708902876 enrolled · 2012
Δ -1.00-1.23 to -0.78
NCT00676338820 enrolled · 2008
Δ -0.05-0.26 to 0.17
NCT01126580807 enrolled · 2010
Δ -0.22-0.36 to -0.08
NCT01023581784 enrolled · 2009
Δ -0.67-0.96 to -0.37
NCT01076088744 enrolled · 2010
Δ -0.84-1.15 to -0.52
NCT00386100688 enrolled · 2006
Δ -0.49-0.67 to -0.30

Other glucose-lowering×glycemic control

No readable resultOpen on the map →What to test next →

8 readable studies in this cell: 5 favour the treatment, 0 find no difference, 3 favour the comparator.

Belief with this paper
0.50contested · 3 families support, 1 contradict · against placebo
Without itNot a counted family in this claim, so removing it changes nothing.
← favours the treatmentfavours the comparator →
0 · no effect
This paper · 2010
decrease -19.4
NCT017093055,570 enrolled · 2012
Δ 0.190.02 to 0.36
NCT050350821,018 enrolled · 2021
Δ -0.24-0.44 to -0.04
The efficacy and safety of imeglimin as add-on therapy in patients wit…PMID 23160726 · 2013
placebo-subtracted decrease -0.44
One-year acarbose treatment raises fasting serum acetate in diabetic p…PMID 7743764 · 1995
reduced -0.20
Dorzagliatin add-on therapy to metformin in patients with type 2 diabe…PMID 35551292 · 2022
Δ -0.66-0.79 to -0.53
Miglitol combined with metformin improves glycaemic control in type 2 …PMID 11703422 · 2001
treatment effect 0.22
Baseline glucagon impacts glucose-lowering effects of acarbose but not…PMID 40319921 · 2025
Δ -1.27
4 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

5 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Untapped diamonds for untamed diabetes: The α-glucosidase inhibitors.Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism · 2014
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
6 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

7 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

S JayaramBombay Hospital and Medical Research Center.
R S Hariharan
R Madhavan
I Periyandavar
S S Samra
Bombay Hospital · IN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

8 · The paper itself

Abstract

The marked sentences are the ones the graph read a number from.

objectiveThe present study was a prospective, parallel group, open-labeled, comparative, multicentric, active controlled study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and benefits of fixed dose combination of acarbose and metformin versus metformin alone in type 2 diabetic patients.

methodsA total of 229 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled at 5 medical centers across India. They received either acarbose (50 mg) + metformin (500 mg) bid/tid (n=115) or metformin monotherapy (500 mg) bid/ tid (n=114) for 12 weeks. Primary objective was to evaluate safety and tolerability based on the adverse events reported. Secondary objective was efficacy assessment based on changes in fasting, post prandial blood glucose and HbA1c values.

resultsIn the acarbose + metformin group 10 patients reported 14 adverse events while in metformin group 9 patients reported 10 adverse events. No patient reported any serious adverse event or was withdraw from study because of adverse events. In the acarbose plus metformin group fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased from a baseline of 158.85 +/- 18.14 mg/dl to 113.55 +/- 19.38 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 45.30 +/- 15.30 mg/dl) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group fasting blood glucose decreased from a baseline of 158.31 +/- 26.53 mg/dl to 130.55 +/- 28.31 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 27.76 +/- 22.91 mg/dl) at 12 weeks. In the acarbose plus metformin group postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) decreased from a baseline of 264.65 +/- 34.03 mg/dl to 173.22 +/- 31.40 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 91.43 +/- 28.65 mg/dl) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group PPBG decreased from a baseline of 253.56 +/- 36.28 mg/dl to 205.36 +/- 39.49 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) (decrease of 48.20 +/- 32.72 mg/dl) at 12 weeks. In the acarbose plus metformin group glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased from a baseline of 9.47 +/- 0.69% to 7.71 +/- 0.85% (p < 0.0001) (% decrease of 1.76 +/- 1.11) at 12 weeks, while in the metformin group HbAlc decreased from a baseline of 9.32 +/- 0.65% to 8.26 +/- 0.68% (p < 0.0001) (% decrease of 1.06 +/- 0.66) at 12 weeks. The combination of acarbose and metformin was found to be significantly superior in lowering the FBC (p < 0.0001), PPBG (p < 0.0001) and HbA1c (p < 0.0001) at 12 weeks as compared to metformin monotherapy.

conclusionsFixed dose combination of acarbose and metformin was well tolerated and it was superior to metformin monotherapy in controlling FBG, PPBG and HbA(1C) levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients.

Indexed as

AcarboseAdolescentAdultBlood GlucoseDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Dose-Response Relationship, DrugDrug Therapy, CombinationFastingFemaleGlycated HemoglobinHumansHypoglycemic AgentsMaleMetforminMiddle AgedPostprandial PeriodAcarboseBlood GlucoseGlycated HemoglobinHypoglycemic AgentsMetformin

Identifiers

PMID21510461
OpenAlexW175665967

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.