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Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy
Published in: Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy 3/2008

01-06-2008

Metformin: Effects on Micro and Macrovascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes

Author: Clifford J. Bailey

Published in: Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy | Issue 3/2008

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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.
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Metadata
Title
Metformin: Effects on Micro and Macrovascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes
Author
Clifford J. Bailey
Publication date
01-06-2008
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 0920-3206
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-008-6092-0

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