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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, diabetes, and oxidative stress

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Abstract Diabetes and related metabolic diseases have a high prevalence with increasing incidence and create a significant socioeconomic burden by their contribution to global mortality and disability adjusted life years. Whereas the contribution of communicable disease to global deaths decreased during the last 25 years, the contribution by chronic noncommunicable disease and environmental factors increased within this time period. According to data of the Global Burden of Disease Study high fasting plasma glucose and high total cholesterol rank in place 3 and 4 in the list of global health risk factors, just behind high blood pressure and smoking. Diabetes adversely affects endothelial and cardiac function and thereby contributes significantly to the development and progression of cardiovascular disease that represent the leading health risk factors and causes of death worldwide. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathomechanisms underlying diabetes mellitus and the associated cardiovascular complications. We therefore highlight the beneficial effects of the relatively new antidiabetic drug class of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on overall and cardiovascular mortality of diabetic individuals with special emphasis on their effects on oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction.