Diabetes Drug Improves Artery Health

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Effect of adiponectin on carotid arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetic patients treated with pioglitazone and metformin, by T. Araki and colleagues. Metabolism 55:996–1001, 2006.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Diabetes is closely linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD, disease of the heart and blood vessels). Heart and blood vessel disease tends to develop more quickly in people with diabetes.

Adiponectin is believed to help protect blood vessels. People with low levels of adiponectin are more likely to have heart attacks or die from CVD. Adiponectin is a protein hormone in the blood that plays a role in metabolism and blood glucose control

Some drugs used to treat diabetes raise adiponectin levels and improve the health of blood vessels. These drugs include metformin and pioglitazone.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

Researchers wanted to study the effects of metformin and pioglitazone on an aspect of blood vessel health known as arterial stiffness. Healthy arteries are elastic and flexible. Hardening of the arteries makes blood vessels stiffer than normal.

Who was studied?

The study included 20 people with type 2 diabetes.

How was the study done?

Each person had a physical exam, including tests to measure arterial stiffness. Blood was taken for lab tests. Ten people took metformin; the others received pioglitazone. The patients stayed on the drug therapy for 6 months, then the tests were repeated.

What did the researchers find?

In people who took pioglitazone, adiponectin levels rose and arterial stiffness got better. There was no change in those who took metformin.

What were the limitations of the study?

The number of participants in the study was small. Plus, there were other parts of artery health that weren’t measured.

What are the implications of the study?

Pioglitazone raises adiponectin levels in the blood and may help improve artery health. More research is needed to see whether the drug affects the severity or the chances of a person getting heart and blood vessel disease.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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