Treatment of dyslipoproteinemia in the metabolic syndrome

Association of matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to type 2 diabetes: A case control study

AIMS

Genetic variations mediating MMP-2 expression may result in individual differences in susceptibility to particular diseases. Our aim was to investigate the possible association of certain MMP-2 gene variants with the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a Tunisian population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A retrospective case-control study involving 310 normoglycemic control subjects and 791 T2D patients was conducted. Genotyping of MMP-2 variants was performed by real time PCR.

RESULTS

Minor allele frequencies (MAF) of the rs243865 and the rs243866 MMP-2, were significantly different between T2D cases and controls. Setting homozygous wild-type genotype carrier as reference, a reduced risk of T2D was seen with the rs243865 and the rs243866 genotypes. Haploview analysis revealed limited linkage disequilibrium between the tested MMP-2 and variants, with most haplotypes (99.5%) captured by 7 MMP-2 haplotypes. Taking the GCCC haplotype as reference for MMP-2 (OR = 1.00), a reduced frequency of TTCC haplotypes (P = 0.04) and the GTCC haplotype (P = 3.5 · 10^-5) was noted in T2D which indicates a protective nature of these two haplotypes for T2D development.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate a consistent association of the rs243865 and rs243866 genotype with a protection for T2D.

Association of obesity with hypertension and dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects

AIM

Obesity and diabetes are contributed to cardiovascular disease risk. The current study was performed to evaluate the association of central and general obesity and cardio-metabolic risk factors, including dyslipidemia and hypertension in T2DM patients.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study in T2DM adults. Body mass index (BMI) was used to identify general obesity and waist circumference (WC) was measured to define abdominal obesity (based on ATP III). Biochemical analyses, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were done for all participants.

RESULTS

Participants with central obesity showed significantly higher systolic (132.5mmHg vs. 125.4mmHg, p=0.024) and diastolic blood pressures (84.9mmHg vs. 80mmHg, p=0.007) than participants without obesity. Dyslipidemia was more prevalent in all participants either by BMI (98.3% vs. 97%, 95% CI: 0.18-17.53) or by WC (97.2% vs. 98%, 95% CI: 0.07-7.19). Abdominal adiposity in diabetic subjects showed significant reverse association with high level of physical activity (OR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.06-0.85). Hypertriglyceridemia rate was increased with both central (OR=2.11; p=0.040) and general obesity (OR=2.68; p=0.021). After adjustment for energy intake and age, females had higher risk of general (OR=4.57, 95% CI=1.88-11.11) and central obesity (OR=7.93, 95% CI=3.48-18.08).

CONCLUSIONS

Females were more susceptible to obesity. Hypertension was associated with both obesity measures. Dyslipidemia, except for hypertriglyceridemia, was correlated to neither abdominal nor general obesity.

Pycnogenol® in Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders

The present review provides an update of the biological actions of Pycnogenol® in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and related disorders such as obesity, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and hypertension. Pycnogenol® is a French maritime pine bark extract produced from the outer bark of Pinus pinaster Ait. Subsp. atlantica. Its strong antioxidant, antiinflammatory, endothelium-dependent vasodilator activity, and also its anti-thrombotic effects make it appropriate for targeting the multifaceted pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome. Clinical studies have shown that it can reduce blood glucose levels in people with diabetes, blood pressure in mild to moderate hypertensive patients, and waist circumference, and improve lipid profile, renal and endothelial functions in metabolic syndrome. This review highlights the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome and related clinical research findings on the safety and efficacy of Pycnogenol®. The results of clinical research studies performed with Pycnogenol® are discussed using an evidence-based, target-oriented approach following the pathophysiology of individual components as well as in metabolic syndrome overall.

Metabolic effects of fluvastatin extended release 80 mg and atorvastatin 20 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels: a 4-month, prospective, open-label, randomized, blinded-end point (probe) trial

BACKGROUND

Diabetic dyslipidemia is characterized by greater triglyceridation of all lipoproteins and low levels of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In this condition, the serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is only slightly elevated. The central role of decreased serum HDL-C level in diabetic cardiovascular disease has prompted the establishment of a target of ≥50 mg/dL in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of once-daily administration of fluvastatin extended release (XL) 80 mg or atorvastatin 20 mg on serum HDL-C levels in patients with type 2 DM and low levels of serum HDL-C.

METHODS

This 4-month, prospective, open-label, randomized, blinded-end point (PROBE) trial was conducted at Endocrinology and Diabetology Service, L. Sacco-Polo University Hospital (Milan, Italy). Patients aged 45 to 71 years with type 2 DM receiving standard oral antidiabetic therapy, with serum HDL-C levels <50 mg/dL, and with moderately high serum levels of LDL-C and triglycerides (TG) were enrolled. After 1 month of lifestyle modification and dietary intervention, patients who were still showing a decreased HDL-C level were randomized, using a 1:1 ratio, to receive fluvastatin XL 80-mg tablets or atorvastatin 20-mg tablets, for 3 months. Lipoprotein metabolism was assessed by measuring serum levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, apolipoprotein (apo) A-I (the lipoprotein that carries HDL), and apo B (the lipoprotein that binds very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, intermediate-density lipoprotein, and LDL on a molar basis). Patients were assessed every 2 weeks for treatment compliance and subjective adverse events. Serum creatine phosphokinase and liver enzymes were assessed before the run-in period, at the start of the trial, and at 1 and 3 months during the study.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were enrolled (50 patients per treatment group; fluvastatin XL group: 33 men, 17 women; mean [SD] age, 58 [12] years; atorvastatin group: 39 men, 11 women; mean [SD] age, 59 [11] years). In the fluvastatin group after 3 months of treatment, mean (SD) LDL-C decreased from 149 (33) to 95 (25) mg/dL (36%; P < 0.01), TG decreased from 437 (287) to 261 (164) mg/dL (40%; P < 0.01), and HDL-C increased from 41 (7) to 46 (10) mg/dL (12%; P < 0.05). In addition, apo A-I increased from 118 (18) to 124 (15) mg/dL (5%; P < 0.05) and apo B decreased from 139 (27) to 97 (19) mg/dL (30%; P < 0.05). In the atorvastatin group, LDL-C decreased from 141 (25) to 84 (23) mg/dL (40%; P < 0.01) and TG decreased from 411 (271) to 221 (87) mg/dL (46%; P < 0.01). Neither HDL-C (41 [7] vs 40 [6] mg/dL; 2%) nor apo A-I (117 [19] vs 114 [19] mg/dL; 3%) changed significantly. However, apo B decreased significantly, from 131 (20) to 92 (17) mg/dL (30%; P < 0.05). Mean changes in HDL-C (+5 [8] vs -1 [2] mg/dL; P < 0.01) and apo A-I (+6 [18] mg/dL vs -3 [21] mg/dL; P < 0.01) were significantly greater in the fluvastatin group than in the atorvastatin group, respectively. However, the decreases in LDL-C (54 [31] vs 57 [32] mg/ dL), TG (177 [219] vs 190 [65] mg/dL), and apo B (42 [26] vs 39 [14] mg/dL) were not significantly different between the fluvastatin and atorvastatin groups, respectively. No severe adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Fluvastatin XL 80 mg and atorvastatin 20 mg achieved mean serum LDL-C (≤ 100 mg/dL) and apo B target levels (≤ 100 mg/dL) in the majority of this population of patients with type 2 DM, but mean serum HDL-C level was increased significantly only with fluvastatin-16 patients (32%) in the fluvastatin group compared with none in the atorvastatin group achieved HDL-C levels ≥50 mg/dL. The increase in HDL-C in the fluvastatin-treated patients was associated with an increase in apo A-I, suggesting a potential pleiotropic and selective effect in patients with low HDL-C levels.

Genetic variants of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2) gene influence metabolic syndrome susceptibility

AIM

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are suggested to be involved in the development of various clinical factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Allelic variants in the promoter region of the MMP2 gene may modulate an individual's susceptibility to MetS. We performed this study to determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) -1575 (G>A) and -168 (G>T) of the MMP2 gene are associated with MetS risk.

METHODS

In this hospital-based case-control study, 180 confirmed MetS patients and 190 unrelated healthy controls of similar ethnicity were genotyped for MMP2 (-1575 G>A, -168 G>T) polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTS

Variant genotype (AA) of -1575 showed increased risk (odds ratio [OR]=2.72, 95% confidence intervals [CI]=1.19-6.23, p=0.018) of MetS as compared to the wild-type homozygous genotype (GG). Similarly, the variant allele (A) (OR=1.60, 95%CI=1.12-2.26, p=0.009) and combined genotype (GA+AA) (OR=1.51, 95%CI=0.98-2.31, p=0.057) were also significantly associated with MetS risk. High risk of MetS was observed with respect to the haplotype (A-T) (OR=1.83, 95%CI=1.03-3.26, p=0.038) of MMP2 (-1575 and -168) polymorphisms. However, MMP2 (-168 G>T) polymorphism individually did not show any risk with MetS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results strongly support the notion that common sequence variants and haplotype of MMP2 (-1575 G>A and -168 G>T) might be a genetic risk for the development of MetS in the North Indian population. Additional studies on larger populations are needed to clarify the role of genetic variants of this gene in MetS.

Macrovascular effects and safety issues of therapies for type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes has long been recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, peripheral arterial disease, cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure. Cardiovascular (CV) complications are the leading cause of comorbidity and death in the patient with diabetes. Vascular complications of diabetes also extend to microvascular disease, manifest as diabetic nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. The impact of glycemic control in reducing microvascular complications is well established. Although more controversial, there is also evidence that glycemic control can limit macrovascular disease, including CAD, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke. Glycemic control in the context of type 2 diabetes, as well as prediabetes, is also intertwined with CV risk factors such as obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and blood pressure control. Similarly, major issues and concerns have arisen around the CV safety of antidiabetic therapy. Together, these issues have focused attention on the need to understand the CV effects of current treatments for type 2 diabetes and the optimal strategies for care of patients with this disease.

Chronische Therapie des metabolischen Syndroms bei herzoperierten Diabetikern

Patients with type 2 diabetes often also exhibit additional features of the metabolic syndrome. These include specifically central obesity triggering development and maintenance of diabetes together with arterial hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Chronic therapy of the metabolic syndrome in diabetics after coronary bypass surgery focuses on changes in lifestyle, i.e., cessation of smoking, changes in nutrition and increase in physical activity. Nutrition aims at fat reduction and modification to reduce saturated fatty acids, to allow mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids instead, and moderate alcohol consumption. High fiber and complex carbohydrate diet complete the recommendations. Nutrition therapy connected to increases in physical activity are aimed at reducing weight in overweight and obese subjects, which should reduce their body weight by 5 to 10% within about 6 months. Normal weight subjects benefit from increases in physical activity by lipid and glucose regulation as well as by reduction in mortality.Diabetes-specific therapy aims at normoglycemia including postprandial blood glucose levels, reduces blood pressure supported by ACE inhibitors and aims at weight reduction. Reduction of LDL-cholesterol is the first line therapy, also diminishing small-dense LDL particles. Decreasing triglycerides and increasing HDL-cholesterol are further lipid-regulating aims. Specifically diabetics after coronary bypass surgery need LDL-cholesterol levels below 70 mg/d (1.8 mmol/L) and triglycerides below 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L). In addition, in males HDL-cholesterol should be at least above 40 mg/dl (1 mmol/L), in females above 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L).

Therapy insight: heart disease and the insulin-resistant patient

Insulin-resistance syndromes are of pandemic proportions; 150 million people worldwide and an estimated 43 million people in the US are currently affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome respectively. Treatment of heart disease in the context of type 2 diabetes requires multifactorial risk-factor management, including lifestyle modification and drug treatment for comorbidities. Management of coronary risk extends beyond simple cholesterol lowering. Early use of cardiac imaging and, where appropriate, revascularization should be considered in high-risk or symptomatic patients. Traditionally, patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary arterial disease have been treated surgically, but percutaneous revascularization of these patients is increasingly common. Indeed, revascularization by use of drug-eluting coronary stents combined with administration of novel antiplatelet agents has revolutionized percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes. Despite these advances, there is no consensus of opinion regarding revascularization strategies or risk-factor management in insulin-resistant patients with symptomatic or prognostically important coronary arterial disease. Furthermore, specific therapies and preventative strategies for diabetic cardiomyopathy and heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes remain elusive. The identification of optimized approaches for the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome and heart disease in insulin-resistant, nondiabetic patients remains a major global challenge.

Physical activity and its effects on lipids

Physical activity is an important component of weight control, and is widely recommended to prevent and treat obesity-related complications such as diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). Although the cardiovascular benefits of increased physical activity are likely multifactorial, much of the attention has been focused on the known high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol-raising properties of regular physical activity. Physical activity, however, can also reliably lower triglycerides and favorably affect both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL particle sizes. Limited data on resistance exercise suggest that this type of physical activity may reduce LDL cholesterol. Although these lipid effects are modest and variable, they are likely to be particularly important in reducing the morbidity and mortality from CHD on a population level, and may be especially important in patients with atherogenic dyslipidemia.

The power of statins: aggressive lipid lowering

A large body of evidence has demonstrated that reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and related adverse events. The greatest reductions in morbidity and mortality are attained in higher-risk patients, suggesting that targeting this group can maximize the cost-effectiveness of statins, since fewer patients need to be treated to prevent one event. High-risk individuals (those with preexisting CHD or CHD risk equivalents) require aggressive lipid lowering to achieve the stringent LDL-C goal levels established by the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III). The hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, have assumed the central role in this setting because of their superior ability to reduce LDL-C across the spectrum of CHD risk. Rosuvastatin, a new agent in this class, reduces LDL-C to a significantly greater degree than atorvastatin, pravastatin, or simvastatin. The more aggressive goals put forward since ATP I (1987) have heightened interest in more efficacious statins. As a result, simvastatin, atorvastatin, and now rosuvastatin have been developed, adding sequentially greater LDL-C-reducing capacity for the physician. Substantially more patients, particularly high-risk patients, are thereby able to achieve NCEP ATP III target LDL-C levels with rosuvastatin. Other cholesterol-lowering drugs (bile acid sequestrants, niacin, plant stanols, and fibrates) are much less effective at lowering LDL-C and are much less well tolerated but may be useful when combined with statins. A novel class of agents, cholesterol transport inhibitors, have recently become available. These and other new agents hold promise to help achieve ATP III goals when used in combination regimens initiated with a statin.