Effects of Thiazolidinedione Therapy on Inflammatory Markers of Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BackgroundInflammation is a common feature in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This meta-analysis aimed to assess the influence of thiazolidinedione (TZD) therapy on the circulating levels of inflammatory markers in patients with T2DM.Methods and ResultsWe searched the databases Medline, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SpringerLink, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of thiazolidinedione vs. a placebo on patients with T2DM. The main outcomes were absolute changes in levels of circulating inflammatory markers. Twenty-seven RCTs were included and data were analyzed using a fixed-effect model or a random-effect model based on heterogeneity. Pooled results indicated that circulating levels of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP; SMD = –0.65, 95% CI = –0.98 to –0.32, p p p 0.01), fibrinogen (SMD = –0.26, 95% CI = –0.41 to –0.11, p p p valusesp ConclusionsLimited evidence suggested that TZD therapy had anti-inflammatory property that might contribute to its beneficial effect on inflammatory state in patients with type 2 diabetes.