Telmisartan effectively improves insulin sensitivity in hypertensive patients with insulin resistance

The angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan has been shown to activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and increase adiponectin protein content in adipocytes. We tested the hypothesis that telmisartan can increase the serum level of adiponectin and improve insulin resistance.

The study participants were 25 consecutive hypertensive patients (8 females, 17 males; 65 ± 10 years). Insulin resistance was defined as a patient showing ≥2.5 in the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index. We divided subjects into non-insulin resistance (n = 10) and insulin resistance groups (n = 15) based on the HOMA index. Telmisartan was administered (40 mg/day) was administered for 24 weeks.

In the insulin resistance group, telmisartan treatment resulted in a significant decrease in the HOMA index and serum level of C-reactive protein, and it increased the serum level of adiponectin (P < 0.05, respectively). Such improvements were not observed in the non-insulin resistance group. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the increase in the serum level of adiponectin was independently associated with reduction in the HOMA index.

Our findings suggest that telmisartan improves insulin resistance that parallels an increase in the serum level of adiponectin in hypertensive patients with insulin resistance. It may therefore have advantages in treating such populations.