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A medicine designed to improve levels of "good" cholesterol may also help control blood sugar in people with diabetes who are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, according to a newanalysis in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers made the finding while analyzing data from a clinicaltrial on the drug torcetrapib that was halted five years ago.Torcetrapib is a cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP)inhibitor, a type of drug that increases levels of high-densitylipoproteins (HDLs, or "good" cholesterol). The study found that 6,661 people with type 2 diabetes - also knownas "adult-onset" diabetes - showed improved blood sugar controlwhen taking torcetrapib along with a statin medication that reduceslow-density lipoproteins (LDLs or "bad" cholesterol). Subjects whotook a statin and a placebo did not see such improvements. "The possibility that CETP inhibitor drugs may not only reduce therisk of heart attack and stroke , but may also improve the control of blood sugar in people withdiabetes, is an exciting prospect that may translate into realhealth benefits for people with diabetes," said the study's leadauthor, Philip Barter, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., a professor of medicine anddirector of the Heart Research Institute at the University ofSydney in Australia. About 220 million people worldwide have diabetes, according theWorld Health Organization. An estimated 90 percent to 95 percent ofthem have type 2 diabetes, which increases the risk for heart disease , stroke and various other health problems. While the experimental drug was not as effective in taming diabetesas drugs that are commonly used for that purpose, it did reduce theadverse impact on blood sugar commonly seen with statin use, Bartersaid. "Inhibition of CETP has the potential to prevent a worseningof diabetic control that often occurs in people taking statindrugs," he said. The clinical trial called ILLUMINATE (Investigation of Lipid LevelManagement to Understand its Impact in Atherosclerotic Events)involved more than 15,000 people ages 45 to 75. They all had ahistory of heart attack, stroke, chest pain, peripheral vascular disease or cardiac revascularization (angioplasty or bypass). All weretaking medicine to help control their diabetes. The trial wasstopped prematurely in 2006 when patients receiving torcetrapib anda statin called atorvastatin had more cardiovascular problems anddeaths than those given atorvastatin and a placebo. Researcherslater determined those problems were due to other effects of thedrug, not its CETP inhibition. While the development of torcetrapib was halted, two other CETPinhibitors that scientists say do not cause the adverse effects -dalcetrapib and anacetrapib - are in the government's drug approvalpipeline. The analysis of the ILLUMINATE data found: After three months of treatment, those given both drugs had fastingblood sugar 0.34 millimoles per liter lower than in the groupreceiving just the statin. Fasting insulin was 11.7 microunits per milliter lower in the groupreceiving both drugs, and insulin resistance was also improved. After six months, average levels of blood sugar control over amonths-long period were lower in the group receiving both drugs(7.06 percent) versus the group receiving just the statin (7.29percent). Use of the CETP inhibitor also improved glucose and insulinmeasurements in study participants without diabetes, although notas much. In addition, the study found that HDL levels had risen66.8 percent after a year of taking torcetrapib and the statin,compared with minimal change in the other group. It's unclearwhether torcetrapib's impact on HDL may account in part for theimprovement in diabetic control, the scientists noted. A key strength of the study, Barter said, is the size ofILLUMINATE. Yet scientists must determine whether the blood sugareffects were due to the drug's CETP inhibition or some othermechanism - an issue that current trials with dalcetrapib andanacetrapib should help clarify, Barter said. Notes: The Heart Research Institute in Sydney funded the study. PfizerInc. provided statistical assistance. Coauthors are Kerry-Anne Rye, Ph.D.; Jean-Claude Tardif, M.D.;David D. Waters, M.D.; S. Matthijs Boekholdt, M.D., Ph.D.; AndreiBreazna, Ph.D.; and John J.P. Kastelein, M.D., Ph.D. Authordisclosures and sources of funding are on the manuscript. Source: Bridgette McNeill American Heart Association Additional References Citations. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as HD Mini DV Camcorders , Led Downlight Replacement for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Led Tube Light Bulbs.
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