Torcetrapib improves glycemic control

Torcetrapib improves glycemic control

Torcetrapib improves glycemic control: It is known that HDL (high density lipoprotein) has antidiabetic properties in vitro. Individuals with genetic deficiency of CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) and consequent high HDL levels have decreased plasma glucose level. The CETP inhibitor torcetrapib was evaluated in the ILLUMINATE trial (Investigation of Lipid Level Management to Understand its Impact in Atherosclerotic Events). Though the trial failed to show any benefit or rather an adverse effect on the atherosclerotic events, a post hoc analysis of the data has been conducted by Philip J Barter 1, Kerry-Anne Rye, Jean-Claude Tardif, David D Waters, S Matthijs Boekholdt, Andrei Breazna and John J P Kastelein [1] to see the impact of torcetrapib on glycemic control in the diabetic subset of the trial patients which came to over six thousand and six hundred persons. They found that though at baseline there was no difference between the glycemic status of those on atorvastatin alone or those on a combination of atorvastatin and torcetrapib, there was significant improvement in glycemic control after torcetrapib treatment. They suggest further investigation on whether this effect is as a consequence of raising HDL or an independent effect of torcetrapib.

Reference

1. Philip J Barter, Kerry-Anne Rye, Jean-Claude Tardif, David D Waters, S Matthijs Boekholdt, Andrei Breazna, John J P Kastelein. Effect of Torcetrapib on Glucose, Insulin, and Hemoglobin A1c in Subjects in the Investigation of Lipid Level Management to Understand its Impact in Atherosclerotic Events (ILLUMINATE) Trial. Circulation. 2011 Aug 2;124(5):555-62.