title: Metformin and atorvastatin combination further protect the liver in type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes are associated with dyslipidaemia, inflammation and oxidative stress. However, the pathophysiology of NAFLD in type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidaemia is not fully known, as well as the utility of the commonly prescribed anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering drugs in ameliorating liver injury markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  hepatic complications of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidaemia and the effects of atorvastatin and metformin, isolated and in association, in systemic and hepatic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were tested using genetic type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats fed with a high-fat diet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the high-fat diet aggravated the overall metabolic state and the hepatic markers of injury. All treatments decreased fasting glycaemia, insulin resistance and free fatty acid levels. Combined treatment further decreased C-reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin, liver tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), systemic and hepatic oxidative stress and portal inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  our data provides evidence of a greater benefit with a combination of atorvastatin and metformin in improving liver injury in type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidaemia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Center of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. paulomatafome@gmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matafome
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Louro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crisóstomo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cipriano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seiça
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000517:prevention & control; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011758:Pyrroles; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008687:Metformin; D000069059:Atorvastatin