Skip to main content
Download PDF

DPP-4 inhibitor and alpha-glucosidase inhibitor equally improve endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes: EDGE study

Cardiovascular Diabetology volume 13, Article number: 110 (2014) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Alpha glucosidase inhibitor (GI) attenuates postprandial hyperglycemia (PPH) and reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors also attenuate PPH. PPH is one of the factors leading to endothelial dysfunction which is an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, DPP-4 inhibitors protect endothelial function through a GLP-1-dependent mechanism. However, the impact of these two types of drugs on endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes has not been fully elucidated. We compared the effects of sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, and voglibose, an alpha GI, on endothelial function in patients with diabetes.

Methods

We conducted a randomized prospective multicenter study in 66 patients with type 2 diabetes who did not achieve the treatment goal with sulfonylurea, metformin or pioglitazone treatment; 31 patients received sitagliptin treatment and 35 patients, voglibose treatment. The flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery was measured in the fasting state at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. The primary endpoint was a change in FMD (ΔFMD) from the baseline to the end of follow-up. The effects of sitagliptin and voglibose on FMD were assessed by ANCOVA after adjustment for the baseline FMD, age, sex, current smoking, diabetes duration and body mass index. Secondary efficacy measures included changes in HbA1c, GIP, GLP-1, C-peptide, CD34, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers and eGFR and any adverse events.

Results

ΔFMD was significantly improved after 12 weeks of treatment in both groups, and there was no significant difference in ΔFMD between the two groups. There were no significant differences in changes in HbA1c, GIP, GLP-1, C-peptide, lipid profile, oxidative stress marker, inflammatory marker and eGFR between the two groups. Compared with voglibose, sitagliptin significantly increased the circulating CD34, a marker of endothelial progenitor cells. Adverse events were observed in 5 patients in only the voglibose group (diarrhea 1, nausea 1, edema 2 and abdominal fullness 1).

Conclusions

Sitagliptin improved endothelial dysfunction just as well as voglibose in patients with type 2 diabetes. Sitagliptin had protective effects on endothelial function without adverse events.

Trial registration

registered at http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctrj/ under UMIN000003951

Introduction

Postprandial hyperglycemia (PPH) plays a major role in cardiovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes [1] and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) [2]. PPH is one of the main factors leading to endothelial dysfunction, which is an early event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis [3],[4].

Alpha glucosidase inhibitor (GI) prevents the digestion of carbohydrates including starch and table sugar, attenuates postprandial hyperglycemia [5] and delays the development of type 2 diabetes in patients with IGT [6]. Miglitol, an alpha GI, improves endothelial dysfunction assessed by the response of forearm blood flow to reactive hyperemia and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease [7],[8]. Acarbose, an alpha GI, improves postprandial endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes [9],[10] and reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes [11] and IGT [12],[13].

Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitor enhances endogenous incretin action and promotes glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Thus, DPP-4 inhibitor attenuates postprandial hyperglycemia [14]. Furthermore, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an incretin, induces an endothelial-dependent relaxation via NO-dependent action [15] and improves endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes [16], and sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, protects endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats through a GLP-1-dependent mechanism [17]. However, the impact of these two types of drugs on endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes has not been fully elucidated and has been controversial [18],[19].

We conducted a randomized prospective multicenter study to compare the effects of sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, and voglibose, an alpha GI, on endothelial function assessed by FMD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Liao et al. reported that number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with type 2 diabetes was significantly lower than that in the healthy subjects, treatment with metformin significantly increased EPCs and the EPCs number was related to endothelial function assessed by FMD [20]. Fadini et al. reported that sitagliptin increased circulating EPCs in type 2 diabetic patients [21]. We also compared the effects of sitagliptin and voglibose on number of circulating EPCs assessed by measurement of CD34, a maker of EPCs [22], postive cells in patients with type 2 diabetes in this study.

DPP-4 inhibitors have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects [23]-[25]. Ishibashi et al. reported that linagliptin inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in endothelial cells [23]. Matsubara et al. reported that sitagliptin improves endothelial dysfunction in association with ant-inflammatory effects in patients with coronary artery disease and uncontrolled diabetes [24]. Shiraki et al. reported that GLP-1 reduced TNF-α-induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells [25]. We also measured levels of inflammatory markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), and oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL) and urine 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).

The primary endpoint in this study was a sitagliptin- or voglibose-induced change in FMD (ΔFMD) from baseline to the end of follow-up. Secondary efficacy measures included changes in HbA1c, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), GLP-1, C-peptide, CD34, lipid profile, adiponectin, oxidative stress markers including MDA-LDL and urine 8-OHdG, inflammatory markers including hs-CRP and PTX-3, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and any adverse events.

Methods

Study populations

We conducted a randomized prospective multicenter study in patients with type 2 diabetes who did not achieve the treatment goal with diet, exercise, sulfonylurea, metformin or pioglitazone treatment. We recruited 66 patients (men and women) who were from 20 to 85 years of age. Thirty-one patients received the sitagliptin (50 mg/day) treatment and 35 patients, the voglibose (0.6 mg/day) treatment. The doses of the two drugs used in this study are recommended therapeutic doses for Japanese [26],[27] and the doses are covered by the Japanese National Health Insurance. The exclusion criteria were as follows: treatment with insulin, alpha GI or glinide, type 1 diabetes, HbA1c ≥ 9.0%, systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg and serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL at baseline. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients before any study procedure was undertaken.

Study protocol

The patients were followed for at least 8 weeks to confirm that they did not achieve the treatment goal with diet, exercise, sulfonylurea, metformin or pioglitazone treatment. The patients were prospectively randomly assigned to additional treatment with either sitagliptin (50 mg/day) or voglibose (0.6 mg/day) for 12 weeks (Figure 1). The flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery was measured in the fasting state at baseline and after 12 weeks of the treatment. Blood and urine tests were also performed at baseline and at the end of the study. The patients’ antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic and antidiabetic drugs were not changed and anti-oxidant drugs, including vitamin C and E, were not added throughout the study period.

Figure 1
figure1

Study protocol. The patients were followed for at least 8 weeks to confirm that they did not achieve the treatment goal. The patients were prospectively, randomly assigned to additional treatment with either sitagliptin (50 mg/day) or voglibose (0.6 mg/day) for 12 weeks. Measurements of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and blood and urine tests were performed in the fasting state at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.

Full size image

Measurements of biochemical parameters

The following parameters were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment: complete blood count, liver function test including measurement of AST, ALT and LDH, renal function test including measurement of BUN, creatinine, Na, K and Cl, HbA1c, gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), GLP-1, C-peptide, CD34, lipid profile including total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), adiponectin, oxidative stress markers including MDA-LDL and urine 8-OHdG, inflammatory markers including hs-CRP and PTX-3, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). HbA1c levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. The number of CD34+ cells was determined by flow cytometry using FITC-labeled CD45 and phycoerythrin (PE)-labeled CD34 antibodies (BD Biosciences). eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) was determined by the modified Modification of Diet and Renal Disease study formula (MDRD) for Japanese: eGFR = 194 × (age-0.287) × (serum creatinine-1.094) × (0.739 if female) [28]. These measurements were performed by SRL Company, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan).

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD)

Endothelium-dependent dilation was assessed as a parameter of vasodilation according to the guidelines for ultrasound assessment of FMD of the brachial artery in the fasting state [29]. Using a 10-MHz linear-array transducer probe (Unex Company Ltd., Nagoya, Japan), longitudinal images of the brachial artery at baseline were recorded with a stereotactic arm, and measurements of the artery diameter were made after supine rest for ≥5 min as previously described [30]-[32]. The diameter of the artery was measured from clear anterior (media-adventitia) and posterior (intima-media) interfaces, which were manually determined. Then, suprasystolic compression (50 mmHg higher than systolic blood pressure) was performed at the right forearm for 5 min, and measurements of the artery diameter were made continuously from 30 sec before to ≥2 min after cuff release. Maximum vasodilation was then evaluated from the change in artery diameter after the release of occlusion (%FMD). FMD is known to be affected by a wide range of biological, environmental, and methodological factors [33]. To quantify inter- and intra-observer reproducibility, baseline brachial diameter and FMD were measured by three individuals in Okayama University Hospital. Inter- and intra-observer coefficients were high (r > 0.90).

Statistical analysis

The results are expressed as mean ± SD. We assumed that FMD increased by 2% in sitagliptin group and decreased by 0.5% in voglibose group with a standard deviation of 3%. A minimum sample size of 24 participants in each group was required to detect statistical differences in FMD with a power of 80% and α error of 5%. The effects of sitagliptin and voglibose on FMD were assessed by ANCOVA after adjustment for the baseline FMD, age, sex, current smoking, diabetes duration and body mass index (BMI). Differences in age, sex, BMI and abdominal girth were compared using Student’s t-test. The duration of diabetes was compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and categorical variables, using Fisher’s exact test. Differences in secondary efficacy measures between baseline and 12 weeks were compared using the paired Student’s t-test. Values of P < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results

Baseline characteristics

Although 66 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study between September 2010 and December 2011, 6 patients were excluded from this study (4 protocol violation at baseline and 2 withdrawal of consent). During the follow-up period, 5 patients with hypertension dropped out of the study due to change of concomitant antihypertensive drugs. The follow-up study was completed in 55 (83%) of the patients; 24 patients received the sitagliptin treatment and 31 patients, the voglibose treatment. The data collection was completed in July 2012. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, BMI and the type of anti-diabetic medication are shown in Table 1. It has been reported that endothelium-dependent vasodilation assessed by FMD declines with advance of age [34],[35]. We recruited men and women who were from 20 to 85 years of age. The age range was quite wide in our study, but there was no significant difference in age or baseline FMD between the two groups (age, sitagliptin: 66.6 ± 11.9, >70 years: 12, median 69.5, range: 37 – 84 versus voglibose: 68.4 ± 9.2, >70 years: 14, median 70.0, range: 48 – 80 years old, P = 0.529, Table 1) (baseline FMD, sitagliptin: 5.41 ± 2.25 versus voglibose: 4.96 ± 2.16%, P = 0.450, Table 2). We did not exclude patients with severe dyslipidemia, but there were no significant differences in use of antihyperlipidemic drugs (Table 1) and baseline total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-C (Table 3) between the two groups. No patients died, developed cardiovascular events or were admitted to the hospital during the course of the study.

Table 1 Baseline clinical characteristics
Full size table
Table 2 Changes in FMD (ΔFMD) in the sitagliptin and voglibose group
Full size table
Table 3 Changes in secondary efficacy measures in the sitagliptin and voglibose groups
Full size table

The primary endpoint

Change in FMD (ΔFMD) was significantly improved after 12 weeks of treatment in both groups (sitagliptin: +1.11, 95% CI: 0.07-2.16 versus voglibose: +0.98, 95% CI: 0.04-1.91), and there was no significant difference in ΔFMD between the two groups (Table 2 and Figure 2).

Figure 2
figure2

Adjusted changes in FMD (ΔFMD) in the sitagliptin and voglibose groups. Values are the least square means (95% CI). The least square means (95% CIs) were derived from ANCOVA adjusted for the baseline FMD, age, sex, current smoking, diabetes duration and BMI. ΔFMD was significantly improved after 12 weeks of treatment in both groups, and there was no significant difference in ΔFMD between the two groups.

Full size image

Secondary efficacy measures

There were no significant differences in changes in HbA1c, GIP, GLP-1, C-peptide, lipid profile, oxidative stress marker, inflammatory marker and eGFR between the two groups (Table 3). Sitagliptin tended to increase GLP-1 levels after 12 weeks of treatment (0 week: 5.71 ± 5.92 versus 12 weeks: 8.25 ± 6.37 pmol/L, P = 0.0611), but voglibose did not change the levels (0 week: 6.65 ± 10.18 versus 12 weeks: 6.66 ± 6.15 pmol/L, P = 0.9973). Compared with voglibose, sitagliptin significantly increased circulating CD34, a marker of positive endothelial progenitor cells (P < 0.05) (Table 3 and Figure 3).

Figure 3
figure3

Changes in CD34 in the sitagliptin and voglibose groups. A. Circulating CD34 levels at 0 week and 12 weeks in the sitagliptin and voglibose groups. *P < 0.05 vs. 0 W, paired t-test. B. Change in CD34 from the baseline to the end of follow-up (ΔCD34). **P < 0.05, Student’s t-test.

Full size image

Adverse events

Adverse events were observed in 5 patients in the voglibose group (Table 4). There were no serious side effects in either group.

Table 4 Adverse events
Full size table

Discussion

In summary, ΔFMD was significantly improved after 12 weeks of treatment in both the sitagliptin and voglibose groups, and there was no significant difference in ΔFMD between the two groups.

Alpha GI improves postprandial endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes [9],[10]. We showed that not only voglibose, an alpha GI, but also sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, improves endothelial function as assessed by FMD in patients with type 2 diabetes. The impact of a DPP-4 inhibitor on endothelial dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes is controversial. A recent study showed that sitagliptin improved endothelial dysfunction assessed by the reactive hyperemia arterial tonometry index (RHI) after 6 months of treatment in patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease [24]. We also showed that sitagliptin improved endothelial dysfunction assessed by another method, FMD. A prospective observational single arm trial also showed that the treatment with sitagliptin for 12 weeks increased FMD in patients with type 2 diabetes [36]. Here, we conducted a randomized prospective multicenter study in patients with type 2 diabetes and revealed improvement of FMD after the 12-week treatment with sitagliptin. In contrast, another short-term study showed that DPP-4 inhibitors, including sitagliptin or alogliptin, attenuated endothelial function as evaluated by FMD after 6 weeks of treatment in patients with diabetes [19]. Furthermore, voglibose, an alpha GI, did not affect FMD in the study. Therefore, short-term treatment with either DPP-4 inhibitors or alpha GI does not ameliorate endothelial dysfunction in patients with diabetes. Our study showed that 12-week treatment with either sitagliptin or voglibose ameliorated endothelial function. Thus, at least 12 weeks of treatment is needed to improve endothelial function.

The STOP-NIDDM trial showed that an alpha GI reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with IGT [12]. DPP-4 inhibitors are also expected to have beneficial cardiovascular effects [37],[38]. However, two recent trials with DPP-4 inhibitors, SAVOR-TIMI 53 and EXAMINE trials, showed that saxagliptin and alogliptin did not increase or decrease ischemic events in patients with type 2 diabetes [39],[40]. These trials demonstrated the safety of DPP-4 inhibitors but did not demonstrate cardiovascular benefits. Patients at high risk patients for cardiovascular disease were enrolled in those studies. In the SAVOR-TIMI 53 trial, about 78% of the patients had established cardiovascular disease, and the EXAMINE trial consisted of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Mean HbA1c levels were about 8.0 in patients of those studies. Our study included relatively low-risk patients. Only about 25% of the patients in our study had established cardiovascular diseases. Mean HbA1c levels were about 7.0. ΔFMD was significantly improved after 12 weeks of treatment in both the sitagliptin and voglibose groups in our study. The clinical implication of this study is the demonstration of beneficial effects of both sitagliptin and voglibose on endothelial dysfunction in low-risk and mild-risk patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, sitagliptin and voglibose might have cardiovascular benefits in low-risk and mild-risk patients with type 2 diabetes. Further studies are needed to clarify the long-term benefits for cardiovascular disease [37].

Iwamoto et al. reported that once-daily sitagliptin monotherapy (50 mg/day) showed greater efficacy and better tolerability than did thrice-daily voglibose (0.6 mg/day) over 12 weeks in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes [41], but there was no significant difference in changes in HbA1c between the sitagliptin (50 mg/day) and voglibose (0.6 mg/day) groups in our study. Mean HbA1c levels at baseline in the former study and our study were about 7.8 and 7.0, respectively. Lower HbA1c at baseline in our study might have had an influence on changes in HbA1c levels. Sitagliptin tended to increase GLP-1 levels after 12 weeks of treatment, but there was no significant difference in changes in GIP and GLP-1 between the two groups in this study. These results might be because of the small sample size.

Matsubara et al. reported that treatment with sitagliptin for 6 months improved endothelial dysfunction along with a decrease in hs-CRP in patients with coronary artery disease and uncontrolled diabetes [24]. Lipid profiles and eGFR did not change after treatment with sitagliptin in that study as well as in our study. Our study showed no significant difference in changes in hs-CRP after treatment with sitagliptin. Furthermore, Sakamoto et al. reported that sitagliptin improved blood pressure and lipid profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes [42]. These different results might be due to the small sample size, short-term treatment or study in low risk patients with type 2 diabetes.

Fadini et al. reported that sitagliptin increased circulating EPCs in type 2 diabetic patients with concomitant upregulation of stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) [21]. SDF-1α is a chemokine that stimulates bone marrow mobilization of EPCs and is one of the substrates of DPP-4. We also showed that sitagliptin significantly increased circulating CD34, but voglibose did not increase CD34. Therefore, this is an ancillary effect of sitagliptin and it is independent from blood glucose levels. Liao et al. reported that the number of EPCs was an independent risk factor for FMD [20]. Thus, this effect might be favorable for the preservation of endothelial function in the future. Further long-term studies are needed to clarify this point.

A recent study revealed that alogliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, did not increase the frequency of serious adverse events, including hypoglycemia, cancer, pancreatitis, and initiation of dialysis in patients with type 2 diabetes who had a recent acute coronary syndrome [40]. A pooled analysis of 25 randomized clinical trials did not indicate that treatment with sitagliptin increases cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [43]. Our study also showed that sitagliptin did not cause serious adverse events. Thus, DPP-4 inhibitors may be safe drugs for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Study limitations

The first limitation of this study was the small sizes of the groups. The second was heterogeneity of the population in this study. The age range was quite wide in our study. The third limitation was that our study was a short-term study. Our findings need to be confirmed in a large cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and with a long period.

In conclusion, sitagliptin improves endothelial dysfunction just as well as voglibose in patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, sitagliptin increases the level of circulating CD34. Sitagliptin has protective effects on endothelial function without adverse events. These effects have potential favorable cardiovascular implications for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

DPP-4:

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV

eGFR:

Estimated glomerular filtration rate

FMD:

Flow-mediated dilatation

GIP:

Gastric inhibitory peptide

GLP-1:

Glucagon-like peptide-1

GI:

Glucosidase inhibitor

hs-CRP:

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein

8-OHdG:

8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine

IGT:

Impaired glucose tolerance

MDA-LDL:

Malondialdehyde-modified low density lipoprotein

PTX-3:

Pentraxin-3

PPH:

Postprandial hyperglycemia

References

  1. 1.

    Hanefeld M, Fischer S, Julius U, Schulze J, Schwanebeck U, Schmechel H, Ziegelasch HJ, Lindner J: Risk factors for myocardial infarction and death in newly detected NIDDM: the Diabetes Intervention Study, 11-year follow-up. Diabetologia. 1996, 39 (12): 1577-1583. 10.1007/s001250050617.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. 2.

    Is the current definition for diabetes relevant to mortality risk from all causes and cardiovascular and noncardiovascular diseases?. Diabetes Care. 2003, 26 (3): 688-696. 10.2337/diacare.26.3.688.

  3. 3.

    Kawano H, Motoyama T, Hirashima O, Hirai N, Miyao Y, Sakamoto T, Kugiyama K, Ogawa H, Yasue H: Hyperglycemia rapidly suppresses flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation of brachial artery. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999, 34 (1): 146-154. 10.1016/S0735-1097(99)00168-0.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. 4.

    Wascher TC, Schmoelzer I, Wiegratz A, Stuehlinger M, Mueller-Wieland D, Kotzka J, Enderle M: Reduction of postchallenge hyperglycaemia prevents acute endothelial dysfunction in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. Eur J Clin Invest. 2005, 35 (9): 551-557. 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2005.01550.x.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. 5.

    Martin AE, Montgomery PA: Acarbose: an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1996, 53 (19): 2277-2290. quiz 2336–2277

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. 6.

    Chiasson JL, Josse RG, Gomis R, Hanefeld M, Karasik A, Laakso M: Acarbose for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: the STOP-NIDDM randomised trial. Lancet. 2002, 359 (9323): 2072-2077. 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08905-5.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. 7.

    Hiki M, Shimada K, Kiyanagi T, Fukao K, Hirose K, Ohsaka H, Fukushima Y, Kume A, Matsumori R, Sumiyoshi K, Miyazaki T, Ohmura H, Kurata T, Miida T, Daida H: Single administration of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors on endothelial function and incretin secretion in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease - Juntendo University trial: effects of miglitol on endothelial vascular reactivity in type 2 diabetic patients with coronary heart disease (J-MACH). Circ J. 2010, 74 (7): 1471-1478. 10.1253/circj.CJ-10-0013.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. 8.

    Emoto T, Sawada T, Hashimoto M, Kageyama H, Terashita D, Mizoguchi T, Mizuguchi T, Motodi Y, Iwasaki M, Taira K, Okamoto H, Matsuo Y, Kim SK, Takarada A, Yokoyama M: Effect of 3-month repeated administration of miglitol on vascular endothelial function in patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol. 2012, 109 (1): 42-46. 10.1016/j.amjcard.2011.08.005.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. 9.

    Shimabukuro M, Higa N, Chinen I, Yamakawa K, Takasu N: Effects of a single administration of acarbose on postprandial glucose excursion and endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic patients: a randomized crossover study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006, 91 (3): 837-842. 10.1210/jc.2005-1566.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. 10.

    Kato T, Inoue T, Node K: Postprandial endothelial dysfunction in subjects with new-onset type 2 diabetes: an acarbose and nateglinide comparative study. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2010, 9: 12-10.1186/1475-2840-9-12.

    PubMed Central  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. 11.

    Hanefeld M, Cagatay M, Petrowitsch T, Neuser D, Petzinna D, Rupp M: Acarbose reduces the risk for myocardial infarction in type 2 diabetic patients: meta-analysis of seven long-term studies. Eur Heart J. 2004, 25 (1): 10-16. 10.1016/S0195-668X(03)00468-8.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. 12.

    Chiasson JL, Josse RG, Gomis R, Hanefeld M, Karasik A, Laakso M: Acarbose treatment and the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension in patients with impaired glucose tolerance: the STOP-NIDDM trial. JAMA. 2003, 290 (4): 486-494. 10.1001/jama.290.4.486.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. 13.

    Hanefeld M, Schaper F, Koehler C: Effect of acarbose on vascular disease in patients with abnormal glucose tolerance. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2008, 22 (3): 225-231. 10.1007/s10557-008-6091-1.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. 14.

    Seo C, Sakamoto M, Nishimura R, Tsujino D, Ando K, Morimoto A, Utsunomiya K: Comparison of glycemic variability in patients with type 2 diabetes given sitagliptin or voglibose: a continuous glucose monitoring-based pilot study. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2013, 15 (5): 378-385. 10.1089/dia.2012.0262.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. 15.

    Anagnostis P, Athyros VG, Adamidou F, Panagiotou A, Kita M, Karagiannis A, Mikhailidis DP: Glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies and cardiovascular disease: looking beyond glycaemic control. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2011, 13 (4): 302-312. 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2010.01345.x.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. 16.

    Nystrom T, Gutniak MK, Zhang Q, Zhang F, Holst JJ, Ahren B, Sjoholm A: Effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on endothelial function in type 2 diabetes patients with stable coronary artery disease. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2004, 287 (6): E1209-E1215. 10.1152/ajpendo.00237.2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. 17.

    Liu L, Liu J, Wong WT, Tian XY, Lau CW, Wang YX, Xu G, Pu Y, Zhu Z, Xu A, Lam KS, Chen ZY, Ng CF, Yao X, Huang Y: Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor sitagliptin protects endothelial function in hypertension through a glucagon-like peptide 1-dependent mechanism. Hypertension. 2012, 60 (3): 833-841. 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.195115.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. 18.

    Pistrosch F, Schaper F, Passauer J, Koehler C, Bornstein SR, Hanefeld M: Effects of the alpha glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on endothelial function after a mixed meal in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Horm Metab Res. 2009, 41 (2): 104-108. 10.1055/s-0028-1103276.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. 19.

    Ayaori M, Iwakami N, Uto-Kondo H, Sato H, Sasaki M, Komatsu T, Iizuka M, Takiguchi S, Yakushiji E, Nakaya K, Yogo M, Ogura M, Takase B, Murakami T, Ikewaki K: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors attenuate endothelial function as evaluated by flow-mediated vasodilatation in type 2 diabetic patients. J Am Heart Assoc. 2013, 2 (1): e003277-10.1161/JAHA.112.003277.

    PubMed Central  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. 20.

    Liao YF, Chen LL, Zeng TS, Li YM, Fan Y, Hu LJ, Ling Y: Number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells as a marker of vascular endothelial function for type 2 diabetes. Vasc Med. 2010, 15 (4): 279-285. 10.1177/1358863X10367537.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. 21.

    Fadini GP, Boscaro E, Albiero M, Menegazzo L, Frison V, de Kreutzenberg S, Agostini C, Tiengo A, Avogaro A: The oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin increases circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with type 2 diabetes: possible role of stromal-derived factor-1alpha. Diabetes Care. 2010, 33 (7): 1607-1609. 10.2337/dc10-0187.

    PubMed Central  CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. 22.

    Mackie AR, Losordo DW: CD34-positive stem cells: in the treatment of heart and vascular disease in human beings. Tex Heart Inst J. 2011, 38 (5): 474-485.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. 23.

    Ishibashi Y, Matsui T, Maeda S, Higashimoto Y, Yamagishi S: Advanced glycation end products evoke endothelial cell damage by stimulating soluble dipeptidyl peptidase-4 production and its interaction with mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2013, 12: 125-10.1186/1475-2840-12-125.

    PubMed Central  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. 24.

    Matsubara J, Sugiyama S, Akiyama E, Iwashita S, Kurokawa H, Ohba K, Maeda H, Fujisue K, Yamamoto E, Kaikita K, Hokimoto S, Jinnouchi H, Ogawa H: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, sitagliptin, improves endothelial dysfunction in association with its anti-inflammatory effects in patients with coronary artery disease and uncontrolled diabetes. Circ J. 2013, 77 (5): 1337-1344. 10.1253/circj.CJ-12-1168.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. 25.

    Shiraki A, Oyama J, Komoda H, Asaka M, Komatsu A, Sakuma M, Kodama K, Sakamoto Y, Kotooka N, Hirase T, Node K: The glucagon-like peptide 1 analog liraglutide reduces TNF-alpha-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in endothelial cells. Atherosclerosis. 2012, 221 (2): 375-382. 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.12.039.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. 26.

    Iwamoto Y, Taniguchi T, Nonaka K, Okamoto T, Okuyama K, Arjona Ferreira JC, Amatruda J: Dose-ranging efficacy of sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Endocr J. 2010, 57 (5): 383-394. 10.1507/endocrj.K09E-272.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. 27.

    Matsumoto K, Yano M, Miyake S, Ueki Y, Yamaguchi Y, Akazawa S, Tominaga Y: Effects of voglibose on glycemic excursions, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity in non-insulin-treated NIDDM patients. Diabetes Care. 1998, 21 (2): 256-260. 10.2337/diacare.21.2.256.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. 28.

    Matsuo S, Imai E, Horio M, Yasuda Y, Tomita K, Nitta K, Yamagata K, Tomino Y, Yokoyama H, Hishida A: Revised equations for estimated GFR from serum creatinine in Japan. Am J Kidney Dis. 2009, 53 (6): 982-992. 10.1053/j.ajkd.2008.12.034.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. 29.

    Corretti MC, Anderson TJ, Benjamin EJ, Celermajer D, Charbonneau F, Creager MA, Deanfield J, Drexler H, Gerhard-Herman M, Herrington D, Vallance P, Vita J, Vogel R: Guidelines for the ultrasound assessment of endothelial-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery: a report of the International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002, 39 (2): 257-265. 10.1016/S0735-1097(01)01746-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. 30.

    Yunoki K, Nakamura K, Miyoshi T, Enko K, Kohno K, Morita H, Kusano KF, Ito H: Ezetimibe improves postprandial hyperlipemia and its induced endothelial dysfunction. Atherosclerosis. 2011, 217 (2): 486-491. 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.04.019.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. 31.

    Yunoki K, Nakamura K, Miyoshi T, Enko K, Kubo M, Murakami M, Hata Y, Kohno K, Morita H, Kusano KF, Ito H: Impact of hypertriglyceridemia on endothelial dysfunction during statin +/−ezetimibe therapy in patients with coronary heart disease. Am J Cardiol. 2011, 108 (3): 333-339. 10.1016/j.amjcard.2011.03.049.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. 32.

    Noda Y, Miyoshi T, Oe H, Ohno Y, Nakamura K, Toh N, Kohno K, Morita H, Kusano K, Ito H: Alogliptin ameliorates postprandial lipemia and postprandial endothelial dysfunction in non- diabetic subjects: a preliminary report. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2013, 12 (1): 8-10.1186/1475-2840-12-8.

    PubMed Central  CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. 33.

    Charakida M, de Groot E, Loukogeorgakis SP, Khan T, Luscher T, Kastelein JJ, Gasser T, Deanfield JE: Variability and reproducibility of flow-mediated dilatation in a multicentre clinical trial. Eur Heart J. 2013, 34 (45): 3501-3507. 10.1093/eurheartj/eht223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. 34.

    Lind L: Impact of ageing on the measurement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Pharmacol Rep. 2006, 58 (Suppl): 41-46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. 35.

    Maruhashi T, Soga J, Fujimura N, Idei N, Mikami S, Iwamoto Y, Kajikawa M, Matsumoto T, Hidaka T, Kihara Y, Chayama K, Noma K, Nakashima A, Goto C, Tomiyama H, Takase B, Yamashina A, Higashi Y: Relationship between flow-mediated vasodilation and cardiovascular risk factors in a large community-based study. Heart. 2013, 99 (24): 1837-1842. 10.1136/heartjnl-2013-304739.

    PubMed Central  CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. 36.

    Kubota Y, Miyamoto M, Takagi G, Ikeda T, Kirinoki-Ichikawa S, Tanaka K, Mizuno K: The dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin improves vascular endothelial function in type 2 diabetes. J Korean Med Sci. 2012, 27 (11): 1364-1370. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.11.1364.

    PubMed Central  CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. 37.

    Scheen AJ: Cardiovascular effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: from risk factors to clinical outcomes. Postgrad Med. 2013, 125 (3): 7-20. 10.3810/pgm.2013.05.2659.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. 38.

    Hausenloy DJ, Whittington HJ, Wynne AM, Begum SS, Theodorou L, Riksen N, Mocanu MM, Yellon DM: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 reduce myocardial infarct size in a glucose-dependent manner. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2013, 12 (1): 154-10.1186/1475-2840-12-154.

    PubMed Central  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. 39.

    Scirica BM, Bhatt DL, Braunwald E, Steg PG, Davidson J, Hirshberg B, Ohman P, Frederich R, Wiviott SD, Hoffman EB, Cavender MA, Udell JA, Desai NR, Mosenzon O, McGuire DK, Ray KK, Leiter LA, Raz I: Saxagliptin and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med. 2013, 369 (14): 1317-1326. 10.1056/NEJMoa1307684.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. 40.

    White WB, Cannon CP, Heller SR, Nissen SE, Bergenstal RM, Bakris GL, Perez AT, Fleck PR, Mehta CR, Kupfer S, Wilson C, Cushman WC, Zannad F: Alogliptin after acute coronary syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2013, 369 (14): 1327-1335. 10.1056/NEJMoa1305889.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. 41.

    Iwamoto Y, Tajima N, Kadowaki T, Nonaka K, Taniguchi T, Nishii M, Arjona Ferreira JC, Amatruda JM: Efficacy and safety of sitagliptin monotherapy compared with voglibose in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind trial. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2010, 12 (7): 613-622. 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2010.01197.x.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. 42.

    Sakamoto Y, Oyama J, Ikeda H, Kuroki S, Gondo S, Iwamoto T, Uchida Y, Kodama K, Hiwatashi A, Shimomura M, Taguchi I, Inoue T, Node K: Effects of sitagliptin beyond glycemic control: focus on quality of life. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2013, 12: 35-10.1186/1475-2840-12-35.

    PubMed Central  CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. 43.

    Engel SS, Golm GT, Shapiro D, Davies MJ, Kaufman KD, Goldstein BJ: Cardiovascular safety of sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a pooled analysis. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2013, 12: 3-10.1186/1475-2840-12-3.

    PubMed Central  CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Osaka Foundation for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The authors also thank the EDGE study investigators: Kazufumi Nakamura, MD; Hiroki Oe, MD; Kei Yunoki, MD; Toru Miyoshi, MD, Hiroshi Ito, MD (Okayama University, Okayama, Japan), Hajime Kihara, MD (Kihara Cardiovascular Clinic), Kenei Shimada, MD (Osaka City University of Medicine), Shota Fukuda, MD (Osaka Ekisaikai Hospital), Kyoko Watanabe, MD (Okayama Saiseikai Hospital), Tsutomu Takagi, MD (Takagi Cardiology Clinic), Kumiko Hirata, MD (Wakayama Medical University) and Junichi Yoshikawa, MD (Nishinomiya Watanabe Cardiovascular Center).

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan

    Kazufumi Nakamura, Hiroki Oe, Kei Yunoki, Toru Miyoshi & Hiroshi Ito

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Kihara Cardiovascular Clinic, Asahikawa, Japan

    Hajime Kihara

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Osaka City University of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

    Kenei Shimada

  4. Department of Medicine, Osaka Ekisaikai Hospital, Osaka, Japan

    Shota Fukuda

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital, Okayama, Japan

    Kyoko Watanabe

  6. Takagi Cardiology Clinic, Kyoto, Japan

    Tsutomu Takagi

  7. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan

    Kumiko Hirata

  8. Nishinomiya Watanabe Cardiovascular Center, Nishinomiya, Japan

    Junichi Yoshikawa

Authors
  1. Kazufumi Nakamura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hiroki Oe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hajime Kihara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kenei Shimada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shota Fukuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kyoko Watanabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Tsutomu Takagi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Kei Yunoki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Toru Miyoshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Kumiko Hirata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Junichi Yoshikawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Hiroshi Ito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kazufumi Nakamura or Hiroshi Ito.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Authors’ contributions

KN, YJ, HI conceived the study, and participated in its design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript. KN, HO, HK, KS, SF, KW, TT, KY, TM, KH carried out examinations. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nakamura, K., Oe, H., Kihara, H. et al. DPP-4 inhibitor and alpha-glucosidase inhibitor equally improve endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes: EDGE study. Cardiovasc Diabetol 13, 110 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-014-0110-2

Download citation

Keywords

  • Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors
  • Alpha glucosidase inhibitor
  • Endothelial function
  • Flow-mediated dilatation
  • CD34

Cardiovascular Diabetology

ISSN: 1475-2840