Methods for Treating Visceral Fat Conditions

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and compositions for treating visceral fat conditions and/or metabolic syndrome using combinations of naltrexone and bupropion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a visceral fat condition comprising administering to a person who has been identified or diagnosed as being in need thereof naltrexone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and bupropion or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the naltrexone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in an amount effective to enhance the treatment effect of the bupropion or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof compared to the administration of the bupropion or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof alone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bupropion or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in an amount effective to enhance the treatment effect of the naltrexone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof compared to the administration of the naltrexone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof alone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of any of  claim 1 , wherein said person has an amount of visceral fat that increases the risk and/or severity of at least one disease or condition selected from coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, periodontal disease, and metabolic syndrome. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said person has been identified or diagnosed using a method comprising the determination of a waist-to-hip measurement ratio. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said person has a waist-to-hip measurement ratio of about 0.8 or greater. 
     
     
         7 . The method of any of  claim 1 , wherein said person has been identified or diagnosed using a method comprising analyzing one or more test selected from a computed tomography (CT) scan, a magnetic resonance imaging scan, and an ultrasonogram. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the intra-abdominal fat area of said person, as determined by CT scanning in a single tomographic slice at the L4-L5 level, is about 80 cm 2  or greater. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said person has metabolic syndrome. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said person has been identified or diagnosed using a method comprising identifying at least three patient characteristics selected from abdominal obesity, elevated triglyceride levels, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and impaired fasting blood glucose. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one of said patient characteristics is abdominal obesity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said treatment of a visceral fat condition comprises at least one effect selected from a reduction of abdominal obesity, a reduction of triglyceride levels, an increase of high-density cholesterol levels, a reduction in blood pressure, and an improvement in fasting blood glucose levels. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said treatment of a visceral fat condition comprises a reduction of said person's susceptibility to a heart disease. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said wherein said reduction of said person's susceptibility to a heart disease comprises a reduction of inflammation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said reduction of inflammation comprises a reduction of the serum level of interleukin 6. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said reduction of inflammation comprises a reduction of the serum level of C-reactive protein. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said person is viscerally obese. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body mass index of said person is greater than about 30. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the body mass index of said person is greater than about 40. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body mass index of said person is less than about 30.