Effect of piglitazone and metformin on retinol-binding protein-4 and adiponectin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with non-alcohol fatty acid liver diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of piglitazone and metformin on retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) and adiponcetin (APN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated with Non alcohol fatty acid liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

Totally 60 T2DM patients complicated with NAFLD were equally and randomly divided into pioglitazone group and metform group. The levels of biochemical indicators including body mass index (BMI), glucose hemoglobin A1C (GHbA1C), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FIns), and serum triglycerides (TG) as well as serum RBP-4 and APN level were measured pre-treatment and 12 weeks after treatments.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks of treaments, BMI, FBG, HOMA-IR, GHbA1C, FIns, and TG decreased (all P<0.05) in both piglitazone group and metform group. APN increased (all P<0.05) in both groups. RBP-4 decreased (P<0.05) in piglitazone group. Compare with the metform group, the levels of RBP-4, FIns ,and HOMA-IR decreased and BMI increased in piglitazone group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Piglitazone is superior to metoform in decreasing RBP-4 level and HOMA-IR in patients with T2DM complicated with NAFLD.