[Effects of glimepiride and metformin on free fatty acid in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of glimepiride and metformin on free fatty acid (FFA) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and to further study the relationship between free fatty acid and insulin resistance in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A prospective and case-control study was conducted. Ninty-four patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (35-70 year-old) were divided into 3 groups glimepiride treated group (n=33), metformin treated group (n=29) and glimepiride plus metformin treated group (n=32). These patients were followed up for 6 months. Free fatty acids were measured by using an enzymatic colorimetry. RESULTS: The concentration of FFA didn't significantly change in the glimepiride treated group at the end of treatment, but it obviously decreased in the metformin treated group and in the glimepiride plus metformin treated group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). The decrease of FFA in the glimepiride plus metformin treated group was more obvious than that in the glimepiride treated group (P < 0.05). The fasting serum FFA concentration is positively related to HOMA-IR( homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance) and the choice of drugs by stepwise regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Metformin alone or metformin plus glimepiride can decrease FFA levels, body weight index, blood glucose and insulin resistance. FFA level can reflect the index of insulin resistance to some degree.