Pioglitazone: beyond glucose control

Abstract

Pioglitazone is an oral antidiabetic agent that decreases insulin resistance in adipose tissue, liver and muscles. This action is mediated by its link to a nuclear receptor called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. By improving insulin sensitivity, hepatic glucose production decreases and glucose uptake increases in the peripheral tissues. Beyond these effects on glucose metabolism, pioglitazone has positive effects on lipid metabolism, blood pressure, endothelial function, adiponectin and C-reactive protein levels. These make pioglitazone treatment effective beyond glucose control. In this article, current evidence concerning pioglitazone in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes will be reviewed.

Keywords::

• cardiovascular
• diabetes
• glucose control
• pioglitazone
• PPAR-γ

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Pedro de Pablos-Velasco has received consulting fees, speaker fees or research support from AstraZeneca, Merck Sharp & Dohme, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Editorial assistance was provided by Content Ed Net, Madrid and was funded by Takeda Spain.