Metformin: effects on micro and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes

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Abstract

Introduction: The antihyperglycaemic agent metformin is widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Data from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study and retrospective analyses of large healthcare databases concur that metformin reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction and increases survival in these patients. This apparently vasoprotective effect appears to be independent of the blood glucose-lowering efficacy. Effects of metformin: Metformin has long been known to reduce the development of atherosclerotic lesions in animal models, and clinical studies have shown the drug to reduce surrogate measures such as carotid intima-media thickness. The anti-atherogenic effects of metformin include reductions in insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia and obesity. There may be modest favourable effects against dyslipidaemia, reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines and monocyte adhesion molecules, and improved glycation status, benefiting endothelial function in the macro- and micro-vasculature. Additionally metformin exerts anti-thrombotic effects, contributing to overall reductions in athero-thrombotic risk in type 2 diabetic patients. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)215-224
Number of pages10
JournalCardiovascular Drugs and Therapy
Volume22
Issue number3
Early online date21 Feb 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2008

Keywords

  • metformin
  • type 2 diabetes
  • hyperglycaemia
  • microvascular complications
  • macrovascular complications

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