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.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A method of treating a visceral fat condition, comprising administering a first and a second compound to a person who has been identified or diagnosed as being in need of treatment for a visceral fat condition in order to treat said visceral fat condition, wherein said first compound is naltrexone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and said second compound is bupropion or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said person has an amount of visceral fat that increases the risk or severity of at least one disease or condition selected from the group consisting of coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, periodontal disease, and a metabolic syndrome. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said person has been identified or diagnosed using a method comprising the determination of a waist-to-hip measurement ratio of about 0.8 or greater. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the intra-abdominal fat area of said person, as determined by CT scanning in a single tomographic slice at the L 4 -L 5  level, is about 80 cm 2  or greater. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said person has metabolic syndrome. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said person has been identified or diagnosed using a method comprising identifying said person as having at least three patient characteristics selected from the group consisting of abdominal obesity, elevated triglyceride levels, decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and impaired fasting blood glucose. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein one of said patient characteristics is abdominal obesity. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said treatment of a visceral fat condition comprises at least one effect selected from the group consisting of a reduction of abdominal obesity, a reduction of triglyceride levels, an increase of high-density cholesterol levels, a reduction in blood pressure, an improvement in fasting blood glucose levels, a reduction of susceptibility to a heart disease, and a reduction of inflammation. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said person is viscerally obese. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the body mass index of said person is greater than about 30. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the body mass index of said person is less than about 30. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said first compound and said second compound are administered together in a single dosage form. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said first compound and said second compound are administered in separate dosage forms. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein said first compound is administered prior to or subsequent to said second compound. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the amount of said naltrexone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in the range of from about 4 mg to about 50 mg per day. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the amount of said bupropion or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in the range of from about 50 mg to about 600 mg per day. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the amount of said naltrexone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in the range of from about 4 mg to about 50 mg per day, and wherein the amount of said bupropion or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in the range of from about 50 mg to about 600 mg per day. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein at least one of said naltrexone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and said bupropion or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in a sustained-release formulation. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein each of said naltrexone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and said bupropion or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in a sustained-release formulation. 
     
     
         82 . A method of treating a visceral fat condition, comprising administering a first and a second compound to a person who has been identified or diagnosed as being in need of treatment for a visceral fat condition in order to treat said visceral fat condition, wherein said first compound is naltrexone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and said second compound is bupropion or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the amount of said naltrexone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in the range of from about 4 mg to about 32 mg per day and the amount of said bupropion or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in the range of from about 50 mg to about 400 mg per day, wherein each of said naltrexone or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and said bupropion or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is in a sustained-release formulation, and wherein said first compound and said second compound are administered together in a single dosage form.