Treatment With Metformin (treatment + with_metformin)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Metformin,pioglitazone and metformin,rosiglitazone effects on non-conventional cardiovascular risk factors plasma level in type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2006
G. Derosa MD PhD
Summary Background and objective:, Metformin is considered the gold standard for type 2 diabetes treatment as monotherapy and in combination with sulphonylureas and insulin. The combination of metformin with thiazolidinediones is less well studied. The aim of the present study was to assess the differential effect, and tolerability, of metformin combined with pioglitazone or rosiglitazone on glucose, coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Methods:, This 12-month, multicentre, double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted at three study sites in Italy. We assessed patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (duration ,6 months) and with metabolic syndrome. All patients were required to have poor glycaemic control with diet, or experienced adverse effects with diet and metformin, administered up to the maximum tolerated dose. Patients were randomized to receive either pioglitazone or rosiglitazone self-administered for 12 months. We assessed body mass index (BMI), glycaemic control [glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting and postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels (FPG, PPG, FPI, and PPI respectively), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index], lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG)], lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and homocysteine (HCT) at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of treatment. Results and discussion:, No BMI change was observed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in either group. Significant HbA1c decreases were observed at 9 and 12 months in both groups. After 9 and 12 months, mean FPG and PPG levels decreased in both groups. Decreases in FPI and PPI were observed at 9 and 12 months compared with the baseline in both groups. Furthermore, in both groups, the HOMA index improved but only at 12 months. Significant TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG improvement was present in the pioglitazone group at 12 months compared with the baseline values, and these variations were significantly different between groups. No TC, LDL-C, TG improvement was present in the rosiglitazone group after 12 months. Significant Lp(a) and HCT improvement was present in the pioglitazone group at 12 months compared with the baseline values, and Lp(a) change was significant compared with the rosiglitazone group. Significant HCT decrease was observed in the rosiglitazone group at the end of the study. In our type 2 diabetic patients, both drugs were safe and effective for glycaemic control and improving HCT plasma levels. However, long-term treatment with metformin plus pioglitazone significantly reduced Lp(a) plasma levels, whereas metformin + rosiglitazone did not. Conclusion:, For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, combined treatment with metformin and rosiglitazone or pioglitazone is safe and effective, However, the pioglitazone combination also reduced the plasma Lp(a) levels whereas the rosiglitazone combination did not. [source]


The effect of metformin on blood pressure, plasma cholesterol and triglycerides in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2004
M. G. Wulffelé
Abstract. Background., The UKPDS 34 showed that intensive treatment with metformin significantly reduces macrovascular end-points and mortality in individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes compared with intensive treatment with insulin or sulphonylurea derivatives, despite similar glycaemic control. How this should be explained is as yet unclear. We hypothesized that metformin may have a glucose-lowering independent effect on blood pressure and lipid profile. In order to test this hypothesis we systematically reviewed the literature and pooled the data obtained in a meta-analysis. Methods., Included were randomized-controlled trials in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and metformin treatment lasting at least 6 weeks. To identify all eligible trials we conducted electronic searches using the bibliographic databases Medline and Embase, contacted the manufacturer and checked obtained publications for cross-references. Results., Forty-one studies (3074 patients) provided data on blood pressure and/or lipid profile. When compared with control treatment, metformin associated effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol were small and statistically not significant [,1.09 mmHg 95% confidence interval (,3.01,0.82), P = 0.30; ,0.97 (,2.15,0.21) mmHg, P = 0.11 and +0.01 (,0.02,0.03) mmol L,1, P = 0.50, respectively]. Compared with control treatment, however, metformin decreased plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol significantly [,0.13 (,0.21,,0.04) mmol L,1, P = 0.003; ,0.26 (,0.34,,0.18) mmol L,1, P < 0.0001 and ,0.22 (,0.31,,0.13) mmol L,1, P < 0.00001, respectively]. We found no indications for publication bias. Of note, glycaemic control as assessed by HbA1c was better with metformin than with control treatment [,0.74 (,0.84,,0.65) percentage point; P < 0.00001]. When studies were subdivided into tertiles according to increasing difference in glycaemic control between metformin and control treatment, it appeared that in case of near similar glycaemic control metformin had no effect versus control treatment on triglycerides, whereas still there was a significant effect on total and LDL cholesterol. Conclusions., This meta-analysis of randomized-controlled clinical trials suggests that metformin has no intrinsic effect on blood pressure, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in patients with type 2 diabetes. This drug, however, independent of its effect on glycaemia, reduces total and LDL cholesterol significantly, but the reductions in these variables are relatively small. [source]


A phase 2 clinical trial of metformin as a treatment for non-diabetic paediatric non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 7 2005
J. B. Schwimmer
Summary Background :,Children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis are insulin-resistant and metformin has been proposed as a potential therapy. However, paediatric safety and efficacy data are absent. Aim :,To test the hypothesis that metformin therapy will safely improve markers of liver disease in paediatric non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Methods :,Single-arm open-label pilot study of metformin 500 mg twice daily for 24 weeks in non-diabetic children with biopsy-proven non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Results :,Ten obese children (mean body mass index 30.4) enrolled and completed the trial. Mean alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) improved significantly (P < 0.01) from baseline (184, 114 U/L) to end of treatment (98, 68 U/L). Alanine aminotransferase normalized in 40% and AST normalized in 50% of subjects. Children demonstrated significant improvements in liver fat measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (30,23%, P < 0.01); insulin sensitivity measured by quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (0.294,0.310, P < 0.05); and quality of life measured by pediatric quality of life inventory 4.0 (69,81, P < 0.01). Conclusion :,Open-label treatment with metformin for 24 weeks was notable for improvement in liver chemistry, liver fat, insulin sensitivity and quality of life. A large randomized-controlled trial is needed to definitively determine the efficacy of metformin for paediatric non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. [source]


Protective role of the antidiabetic drug metformin against chronic experimental pulmonary hypertension

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
C Agard
Background and purpose:, Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with increased contraction and proliferation of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells. The anti-diabetic drug metformin has been shown to have relaxant and anti-proliferation properties. We thus examined the effect of metformin in PAH. Experimental approach:, Metformin effects were analysed in hypoxia- and monocrotaline-induced PAH in rats. Ex vivo and in vitro analyses were performed in lungs, pulmonary artery rings and cells. Key results:, In hypoxia- and monocrotaline-induced PAH, the changes in mean pulmonary arterial pressure and right heart hypertrophy were nearly normalized by metformin treatment (100 mg·kg,1·day,1). Pulmonary arterial remodelling occurring in both experimental models of PAH was also inhibited by metformin treatment. In rats with monocrotaline-induced PAH, treatment with metformin significantly increased survival. Metformin increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation and decreased Rho kinase activity in pulmonary artery from rats with PAH. These effects are associated with an improvement of carbachol-induced relaxation and reduction of phenylephrine-induced contraction of pulmonary artery. In addition, metformin inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and strongly reduced pulmonary arterial cell proliferation during PAH. In vitro, metformin directly inhibited pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell growth. Conclusions and implications:, Metformin protected against PAH, regardless of the initiating stimulus. This protective effect may be related to its anti-remodelling property involving improvement of endothelial function, vasodilatory and anti-proliferative actions. As metformin is currently prescribed to treat diabetic patients, assessment of its use as a therapy against PAH in humans should be easier. [source]