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Troglitazone improves endothelial dysfunction in patients with insulin resistance
Y Watanabe1, S Sunayama, K Shimada
1Department of Cardiology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan. yoshiro@med.juntendo.ac.jp
Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis
|August 2, 2001
Summary
Troglitazone improved endothelial dysfunction in insulin resistant individuals. This suggests that treating insulin resistance may prevent atherosclerosis by enhancing vascular function.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
Background:
- Insulin resistance is a key metabolic factor linked to atherosclerosis.
- Endothelial dysfunction is prevalent in individuals with insulin resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of troglitazone on endothelial function in insulin resistant subjects.
- To determine if troglitazone can improve vascular response in this population.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 13 non-diabetic males with varying insulin sensitivity.
- Measurement of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) using high-resolution ultrasonography before and after 4 weeks of troglitazone administration.
- Assessment of glucose and insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test.
Main Results:
- Troglitazone significantly reduced fasting glucose, insulin levels, and the insulin response to an oral glucose load in insulin resistant subjects.
- Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) significantly improved in insulin resistant subjects after troglitazone treatment.
- A negative correlation was found between FMD and the insulin response (AUC insulin).
Conclusions:
- Endothelial dysfunction is present in insulin resistance.
- Troglitazone effectively improves both impaired insulin response and blunted vascular response.
- Targeting insulin resistance with troglitazone may be a strategy to prevent atherosclerosis development through improved endothelial function.