Long-term effect of bezafibrate on pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin resistance in patients with diabetes.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Development of insulin resistance (IR) and the progressive failure of the pancreatic beta-cell function (BCF) may be important in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Influence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors ligand bezafibrate on BCF and IR in patients with diabetes is unknown. The present study was aimed to investigate the long-term effect of bezafibrate on these parameters in diabetic patients enrolled in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) Study.

METHODS:

Metabolic and inflammatory parameters were analyzed from stored frozen plasma samples obtained from 351 diabetic patients (168 treated by bezafibrate and 183 by placebo) who completed a 2-year of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study period. The homeostatic indexes of BCF (HOMA-BCF) and IR (HOMA-IR) were calculated according to the homeostasis model of assessment.

RESULTS:

Both groups displayed similar baseline characteristics. During follow-up, in the placebo group there was 28% rise of HOMA-IR (p<0.001). In contrast, HOMA-IR in patients in the bezafibrate group did not change (p=0.99). The intergroup differences in HOMA-IR percentage changes were in favor of bezafibrate (p=0.01). HOMA-BCF values have significantly decreased by 13.9% (p=0.04) in patients of placebo group, whereas in patients of bezafibrate group HOMA-BCF was stable during follow-up and its alterations (-2.9%) were non-significant (p=0.59).

CONCLUSIONS:

Diabetic patients from the placebo group demonstrated a progressive declining of BCF and an increasing of IR over 2 years of follow-up. These longitudinal changes were attenuated when patients used bezafibrate.

• Authors: Helena Tenenbaum, Solomon Behar, Valentina Boyko, Yehuda Adler, Enrique Z Fisman, David Tanne, Mordechai Lapidot, Ehud Schwammenthal, Micha Feinberg, Zipora Matas, Michael Motro, Alexander Tenenbaum
• Journal: Atherosclerosis (Atherosclerosis) Vol. 194 Issue 1 Pg. 265-71 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 1879-1484 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 16970952 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Lipids
• Placebos
• Bezafibrate

Topics

• Aged
• Bezafibrate (administration & dosage)
• Blood Glucose
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Homeostasis (drug effects)
• Humans
• Hypolipidemic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Inflammation (metabolism)
• Insulin Resistance
• Insulin-Secreting Cells (drug effects, physiology)
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Placebos