Pharmacologic Substance
acarbose
[ ak-ahr-bohs ]
Brand Names:
Precose
Effect:
Inhibition Carbohydrate Digestion
May Treat:
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
More Information:
Definitions related to acarbose:
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A pseudotetrasaccharide and inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase with antihyperglycemic activity. Acarbose binds to and inhibits alpha-glucosidase, an enteric enzyme found in the brush border of the small intestines that hydrolyzes oligosaccharides and disaccharides into glucose and other monosaccharides. This prevents the breakdown of larger carbohydrates into glucose and decreases the rise in postprandial blood glucose levels. In addition, acarbose inhibits pancreatic alpha-amylase which hydrolyzes complex starches to oligosaccharides in the small intestines.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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An inhibitor of ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASES that retards the digestion and absorption of DIETARY CARBOHYDRATES in the SMALL INTESTINE.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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