Effect of Atorvastatin and Irbesartan, Alone and in Combination, on Postprandial Endothelial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND: Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia are considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Evidence suggests that postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia induce endothelial dysfunction and inflammation through oxidative stress. Statins and angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improving endothelial function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty type 2 diabetic patients ate 3 different test meals: a high-fat meal, 75 g glucose alone, and a high-fat meal plus glucose. Glycemia, triglyceridemia, endothelial function, nitrotyrosine, C-reactive protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and interleukin-6 were assayed during the tests. Subsequently, diabetics took atorvastatin 40 mg/d, irbesartan 300 mg/d, both, or placebo for 1 week. The 3 tests were performed again between 5 and 7 days after the start of each treatment. High-fat load and glucose alone produced a decrease in endothelial function and increases in nitrotyrosine, C-reactive protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and interleukin-6. These effects were more pronounced when high-fat load and glucose were combined. Short-term atorvastatin and irbesartan treatments significantly counterbalanced these phenomena, and their combination was more effective than either therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms an independent and cumulative effect of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia on endothelial function and inflammation, suggesting oxidative stress as a common mediator of such an effect. Short-term treatment with atorvastatin and irbesartan may counterbalance this phenomenon; the combination of the 2 compounds is most effective.