Abstract: Oral compositions containing an effective amount of a tungsten compound (VI), preferably a tungstate salt, more preferably sodium tungstate (Na2WO4), are useful in controlling obesity/overweightness in non-diabetic mammals, including humans. The anti-obesity effect of sodium tungstate dihydrate in rats has been determined in a cafeteria-diet-induced obesity model. Said obese rats are good models of obese, non-diabetic mammals, including humans. The prophylactic, therapeutic and/or cosmetic treatment resulting from this invention is surprising. It provides advantages such as effectiveness, lack of toxicity and relatively low price in comparison with other treatments in prior art. Hence, the oral compositions according to the invention are useful for the treatment of obesity/overweightness in non-diabetic mammals, including humans.

Abstract: The pharmaceutical composition contains an effective amount of a tungsten (VI) compound, preferably a tungstate or a isopolytungstate, and more preferably sodium tungstate. In the method of lowering blood sugar in a human suffering from type I or type II diabetes mellitus, an effective amount of the composition is administered orally. Compared with the known vanadium compositions, the invention has the advantage of providing a similar high sugar-lowering activity but with a much lower oral toxicity at effective doses, both short- and long-term. Compared with insulin, the invention does not present the adverse effect of inducing hypoglycemia when administered in excess.