Metformin improves endothelial function in patients with metabolic syndrome

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Endocrinology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is linked to poor endothelial function and higher cardiovascular risk.
• Insulin resistance is a core feature of MS, contributing to endothelial dysfunction.
• This study investigates metformin's impact on endothelial function and insulin resistance in MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of metformin on endothelial function in patients with Metabolic Syndrome.
• To assess metformin's impact on insulin resistance, measured by HOMA-IR, in MS patients.
• To explore the relationship between improvements in insulin resistance and endothelial function.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month randomized controlled trial involving 65 MS patients.
• Participants received either metformin (500 mg twice daily) or a placebo.
• Endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation) and HOMA-IR were measured before and after treatment.

Main Results:

• Metformin significantly improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation compared to placebo (12.4% vs. 6.9%, P=0.0016).
• Metformin led to a 26% reduction in HOMA-IR, indicating improved insulin resistance (P=0.01).
• A significant inverse correlation was found between improvements in insulin resistance and endothelial function (r=-0.58, P=0.0016).

Conclusions:

• Metformin effectively improves endothelial function and insulin resistance in patients with MS.
• These findings underscore the critical role of insulin resistance in endothelial dysfunction.
• Metformin shows promise as a therapeutic agent for managing MS and its associated cardiovascular risks.