Comparative effects of metformin and pioglitazone on omentin and leptin concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes: a randomized clinical trial

Aims To assess the effects of two commonly used oral hypoglycemic medications metformin and pioglitazone on serum concentrations of omentin and leptin in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods In a clinical trial setting (NCT01593371), patients were randomly allocated to either metformin 1000 mg daily (n = 41), or pioglitazone 30 mg daily (n = 50). Serum concentrations of omentin and leptin were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Patients' weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, and serum lipids were also measured at the two visits. Results Baseline concentrations of omentin and leptin were not different between the two arms of the trial. After three months, metformin decreased both omentin and leptin concentrations in women, and leptin concentrations only in men. On the other hand, pioglitazone reduced both adipokines only in women, but not men. Univariate and multivariate ANCOVA models revealed that both interventions are equally effective in reducing omentin concentration (p = 0.497 for women and 0.344 for men in multivariate models controlling for the effects of confounding variables). Similarly, neither medication was more effective in reducing leptin concentrations after three months (p = 0.822 for women and 0.441 for men in multivariate models). Conclusions Metformin and pioglitazone at pharmacologic doses are equally effective in alteration of serum omentin and leptin concentrations in patients with diabetes, albeit sex differences in response to medications exist. Implication of these findings on long term management and complication prevention of diabetes needs to be elucidated.