Autor:innen:
B. Bongaerts (Düsseldorf, DE)
W. Rathmann (Düsseldorf, DE)
K. Straßburger (Düsseldorf, DE)
O. Kuss (Düsseldorf, DE)
V. Burkart (Düsseldorf, DE)
J. Szendrödi (Düsseldorf, DE)
J. Kotzka (Düsseldorf, DE)
B. Knebel (Düsseldorf, DE)
H. Al-Hasani (Düsseldorf, DE)
M. Roden (Düsseldorf, DE)
Background
Genetic variation may explain the contradictory findings for the association between metformin and LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes. We have previously shown that genetic variation in the SLC2A2 gene interacts with the glycemic response to metformin. Therefore, our aim was to examine the effect of the single nucleotide polymorphism in the SLC2A2 gene on the association between metformin therapy and serum lipid levels and blood pressure in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.
Methods
The current study was performed within the prospective German Diabetes Study. At baseline, a total of 531 participants (mean age: 53±10 years; 64% men) with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in the preceding year underwent intensive metabolic phenotyping. Allelic discrimination of the SLC2A2 gene (rs8192675) was performed through real-time PCR.
Results
Among metformin monotherapy users (46%), having one or two variant C allele(s) was associated with 7% and 23% lower LDL-cholesterol levels compared to homozygotes for the common T allele (125 and 104 versus 135 mg/dl, respectively). Homozygotes for the C allele further showed lower systolic (132 versus 143 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (78 versus 86 mmHg). Among participants not medically treated (54%), LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure were similar across the SLC2A2 genotypes. Interactions between the SLC2A2 genotype and treatment (metformin versus non-pharmacological therapy) were found for LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure (p < 0.05).
Conclusion
Metformin monotherapy, in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients having a genetic variant of the SLC2A2 gene, is associated with significantly lower LDL-cholesterol and slightly lower blood