Antiatherogenic properties of metformin: the experimental evidence.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major determining factor of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetic patients. The established relationship between type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis has fueled suggestions that anti-diabetic drugs with beneficial effects on CV risk factors may help attenuate the atherosclerotic process in diabetic patients. Metformin is a hypoglycaemic agent widely used in the management of type 2 diabetes. In addition to its insulin-sensitising action, this drug has favourable effects on various CV risk factors and reduces macrovascular complications in obese type 2 diabetic patients. This review summarises in vivo and in vitro experimental evidence on the antiatherogenic properties of metformin.
D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin