Effects of Glimepiride on Lipid Metabolism, Especially in Small dense LDL

Abstract

We studied the effects of glimepiride on lipid metabolism compared to glibenclamide, focusing on small dense LDL related to both insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.Glimepiride therapy was started to 21 diabetic patients who had treated with glibenclamide. Two months after the regimen change, serum IRI significantly decreased (9.1±5.7 to 6.3±3.2, p<0.05), and LDL density decreased significantly (0.40±0.02 to 0.32±0.05, p<0.01) in 7 patients who had small dense LDL. These results suggested that glimepiride may increase LDL size, which would improve lipid metabolisrn and prevent the development of atherosclerosis.