Endocrine Abstracts

C-reactive protein (CRP) is closely associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease in both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of commonly prescribed antidiabetic agent metformin on CRP and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes patients after 12 weeks of therapy. Twenty-three newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients (mean age: 49.74±2.03 years; mean BMI: 31.40±1.27 kg/m²) have been given metformin 2 g/day and bA1c, HOMA-IR and hs-CRP were assessed at the baseline and after 12 weeks of therapy. HbA1c was significantly decreased after 12 weeks of therapy (baseline versus 12 weeks: 7.57±0.32 vs 6.14±0.14%, P<0.05), HOMA-IR index was significantly improved (baseline versus 12 weeks: 10.82±1.68 vs 7.27±1.74 mmol×mU/l, P<0.05) while hs-CRP was decreased after 12 weeks of metformin therapy (baseline versus 12 weeks: 6.84±0.83 vs 5.96±1.09 g/l, P>0.05). Baseline hs-CRP was not significantly correlated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HbA1c, BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. The change in hs-CRP values from baseline to 12 weeks was not correlated significantly with changes in BMI, HbA1c or HOMA-IR. In conclusion, 12 weeks of metformin treatment was associated with significant reductions in HbA1c levels and insulin sensitivity independent of changes in hs-CRP, implying other possible mechanism that could influence synthesis or secretion of CRP.