The Low-Dose (7.5 mg/day) Pioglitazone Therapy

Abstract

Pioglitazone is one of thiazolidinedione derivatives, which stimulates nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and improves glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis showed that pioglitazone therapy was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with pre-diabetes and diabetes. Further, in a cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes, pioglitazone therapy was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality. Despite these beneficial effects, the meta-analysis showed that pioglitazone therapy had higher risks of heart failure, bone fractures, edema and weight gain. To find out the efficacy and safety of the low-dose (7.5 mg/day) pioglitazone therapy, we reviewed the dose-response of pioglitazone on favorable effects and adverse effects due to pioglitazone, by searching the reports on effects of daily dose of 7.5 mg and/or 15 mg and/or 30 mg of pioglitazone. The low-dose pioglitazone therapy may show the same degree of improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism, fatty liver, insulin resistance, and adiponectin as the standard- and high-dose pioglitazone therapy. Furthermore, the low-dose pioglitazone therapy may also show less adverse effects on weight gain, edema and heart failure as compared with the standard- and high-dose pioglitazone therapy.

Keywords: Body weight; Hear failure; Lipid metabolism; Liver function; Pioglitazone.

Figure 1

Efficacy and safety of the low-dose (7.5 mg/day) pioglitazone therapy. Low dose of pioglitazone could improve the efficacy and safety, but reduce the side effect to the minimum, suggesting that low dose might be the optimal dose. Briefly, the low-dose pioglitazone therapy may show the same degree of improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism, fatty liver, insulin resistance, and adiponectin as the standard- and high-dose pioglitazone therapy. Furthermore, the low-dose pioglitazone therapy may also show less adverse effects on weight gain, edema and heart failure as compared with the standard- and high-dose pioglitazone therapy.