21 Mar 2011
Metformin has been reported to reduce α-dicarbonyl levels. However, it is unclear if this is the result of a direct action in reducing the levels of α-dicarbonyls or if it is because of an improvement in glycemic control.
Engelen et al. therefore conducted a single center, double-masked, double-dummy, crossover study to compare the effects of metformin versus repaglinide, an antihyperglycemic agent with an insulin-secreting mechanism on the levels of 3DG in 96 nonobese type 2 diabetic patients. They found that both metformin and repaglinide induced an improvement in glycemic control associated with a reduction ion 3DG levels. They thus conclude that this could constitute a metabolic pathway through which both treatments have a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular risk profile. Engelen et al. (2011) European Journal of Endocrinology 164 371-379.
Read the full article at DOI: 10.1530/EJE-10-0851.