Phenyl-alkane-carboxylic acids of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is an aryl, aralkyl or arylvinyl radical optionally substituted by hydroxy, halogen, trifluoromethyl, alkyl, alkylthio, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkoxyalkoxy, alkyl-substituted amino, aryloxy or alkoxy-substituted aryloxy, or is an aryloxyalkyl or arylthioalkyl radical, or a heterocyclic ring system optionally substituted by halogen, alkyl or alkoxy,Y is a valency bond or an unbranched or branched lower alkylene radical containing up to 3 carbon atoms,X is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing 2 to 8 carbon atoms, there being at least 2 carbon atoms between the benzene ring and the carboxyl group, andR is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical, as well as physiologically compatible salts, esters and amides thereof, exhibit hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activity.