Antioxidant properties of drugs used in type 2 diabetes management

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a condition characterized by increased oxidative stress and is often accompanied by many other metabolic disturbances. A plethora of drugs are used to treat the diabetic condition, and the micro- and macrovascular conditions associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These drugs include hypoglycemic agents, statins, fibrates, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Although DM has been associated with increased oxidative stress, and it is this increased oxidative stress which is believed to be the cause of DM-associated complications, antioxidant supplementation studies in patients with T2DM have not shown a benefit. This chapter reviews evidence from human studies for the antioxidant properties intrinsic in drugs used in the treatment of T2DM and its associated complications.