Research

Hormonal

Activation of PPARγ by synthetic thiazolidinediones (glitazones) improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose in type 2 diabetes, but carries significant cardiovascular risks (e.g., rosiglitazone) and side effects (weight gain, edema).

If prescribed a PPARγ agonist for diabetes, understand that while they improve insulin sensitivity, the specific drug matters. Pioglitazone may offer cardiovascular benefits, whereas rosiglitazone has been linked to increased heart risks. Discuss side effects like weight gain and edema with your doctor.

GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
PPARγ is a regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism and therefore its synthetic ligands such as glitazones... improve insulin and glucose parameters and increase whole body insulin sensitivity... However, the influence of both thiazolidinediones on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus is different... rosiglitazone was associated with significant increases in myocardial infarction and death from cardiovascular causes.
Bogna Grygiel‐Górniak · Nutrition Journal · 2014

Why this rating

Review of clinical trials (PROactive, FIELD, ACCORD) and mechanistic studies.

Source

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and their ligands: nutritional and clinical implications - a review

Bogna Grygiel‐Górniak · Nutrition Journal · 2014

DOI 10.1186/1475-2891-13-17

narrative_reviewCited 1,191×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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