Pioglitazone and Rosiglitazone: Effects of Treatment with a Thiazolidinedione on Lipids and Non Conventional Cardiovascular Risk Factors

The so-called central or upper-body obesity has been shown to play a key role in the development of insulin resistance and lipid abnormalities that commonly are associated with metabolic syndrome. Reducing free fatty acids (FFA) levels improves insulin resistance and lipid profile in metabolic syndrome. The established approach to improving FFA metabolism in obesity is based on inhibition of lipolysis, weight loss and treatment with thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Thiazolidinediones effect on lipids and lipid metabolism will be reviewed, particularly as regard their activity on the abnormal FFA metabolism, related to insulin-resistance. The many questions still unsolved about the molecular mechanisms, the large spectrum of action and the similarities and differences between rosiglitazone and pioglitazone action on lipid metabolism have been reviewed as well as the effect of these new insulin-sensitizers on non conventional cardiovascular risk factors.