Effect of simvastatin and/or pioglitazone on insulin resistance, insulin secretion, adiponectin, and proinsulin levels in nondiabetic patients at cardiovascular risk—the PIOSTAT Study

We investigated the effect of pioglitazone in comparison with and in combination with simvastatin on insulin resistance, plasma adiponectin, postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, and intact proinsulin levels in a nondiabetic population at cardiovascular risk. One hundred twenty-five nondiabetic patients at cardiovascular risk were randomized to pioglitazone (PIO), pioglitazone and simvastatin (PIO/SIM), or simvastatin (SIM) treatments. Blood samples were taken for the measurement of adiponectin and lipid levels. In addition, an oral glucose load with the measurements of glucose, insulin, and intact proinsulin levels was performed. Adiponectin levels increased from 14.0 ± 8.2 to 27.6 ± 14.5 …