title: Metabolic syndrome therapy: prevention of vascular injury by antidiabetic agents.
abstract: More than 65 million Americans are currently obese. Type 2 diabetes mellitus, frequently seen in obese subjects, affects 17 million adults in the United States, with a continuous and alarmingly increasing rate. To prevent development of diabetes in those who are at high risk, it is recommended to optimize meal planning and enhance physical activity to make sustained weight reduction possible. In addition to lifestyle changes, various oral antidiabetic agents are available, with diverse mechanisms of action. Some target defective insulin secretion (sulphonylureas, benzoic acid derivatives) or glucose absorption (glycosidase inhibitors), whereas others target insulin resistance (metformin, thiazolidinediones). Patients with metabolic syndrome and diabetes have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease linked to a higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, microalbuminuria, and altered hemostasis--parameters that may be modified by antidiabetic agents. In this article, we review the oral agents used to treat type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, and their effects on vascular tissue.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Palermo, viale F. Scaduto 6/c, 90144 Palermo, Italy. mabar@unipa.it
authors.forename: Ligia J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sowers
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents