Orlistat

Abstract

▴ Orlistat (tetrahydrolipstatin) is an inhibitor of pancreatic and other lipases. As a pancreatic lipase inhibitor, it acts in the gastrointestinal lumen and is indicated for use in obesity. ▴ Serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were reduced in obese, but otherwise healthy, patients during ≤2 years' orlistat treatment; serum triglyceride and high density and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were unchanged in trials of ≤12 weeks. ▴ Obese patients who were maintained on a hypocaloric diet and who received orlistat 360 mg/day for 12 weeks lost a significantly greater percentage of bodyweight than placebo recipients (5 vs 3.5%). ▴ In 2-year studies, weight loss was significantly greater in orlistat than in placebo recipients by the end of year 1; weight was further reduced or maintained in the second year, when a eucaloric diet was allowed, in orlistat but not placebo recipients. ▴ A greater proportion of orlistat than placebo recipients lost >5% or >10% of their initial bodyweight in 1- and 2-year studies.