Comparative study of the effects of ipragliflozin and sitagliptin on multiple metabolic variables in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: A multicentre, randomized, prospective, open‐label, active‐controlled study

In the present randomized study, we assessed the efficacy of ipragliflozin compared with sitagliptin in 124 Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitor‐naïve and incretin‐related agent‐naïve patients were randomly assigned to receive additional 50 mg ipragliflozin or sitagliptin. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with >0.5% decrease in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) without body weight gain at 12 weeks. For secondary endpoints, we measured several biomarkers related to metabolic changes. After 12 weeks, 53.9% of participants in the ipragliflozin and 42.9% in the sitagliptin group reached the primary endpoint ( P = 0.32). Decreases in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass index, and increases in free fatty acids, ketone body concentration and HDL cholesterol levels were greater in the ipragliflozin group. Increases in homeostatic model assessment of β‐cell function and decreases in proinsulin‐to‐insulin ratio were greater in the sitagliptin group. No serious adverse events occurred in either group. In conclusion, ipragliflozin had beneficial effects on fat reduction, insulin resistance and lipid metabolism, while sitagliptin had beneficial effects on β‐cell function.