NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The angiotensin II receptor antagonist telmisartan also appears to be able to reduce glucose, insulin and triglyceride levels in rats, researchers report in the May issue of Hypertension.
“These results indicate that all angiotensin II receptor antagonists are not the same and that some may have anti-diabetic and cardioprotective effects that go well beyond blockade of angiotensin II receptors,” senior investigator Dr. Theodore W. Kurtz told Reuters Health.
Dr. Kurtz of the University of California, San Francisco and colleagues note that the metabolic syndrome is a common precursor of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Mutations of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) appear to be involved.
They also point out that pioglitazone, a PPAR-gamma ligand used to treat diabetes has a structural resemblance to telmisartan.
Thus, to examine the possible PPAR-gamma modulating effects of telmisartan, the researchers added the agent to the drinking water of rats fed a high-fat, high carbohydrate diet.
Compared with control animals and those given losartan, the telmisartan group showed significantly reduced weight gain, and serum glucose and triglyceride levels. Insulin levels also tended to be lower in the telmisartan group.
These results, Dr. Kurtz concluded, “could lead to improved therapeutic approaches to treatment of the metabolic syndrome and to the development of new anti-diabetic agents with fewer side effects than currently existing drugs.”
Source: Hypertension 2004;43:993-1002. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Animal Diseases: Disease Models, Animal: Membrane Proteins: Receptors, Angiotensin: Receptors, Cell Surface: Drugs, Investigational: Receptors, Neurotransmitter: Receptors, Peptide: Receptors, Neuropeptide: DiseasesCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
