Lipid Effects of Avandia

Does Avandia Have an Effect on Lipid Levels?

Avandia^® (rosiglitazone maleate) is a prescription medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is a member of the thiazolidinedione group of diabetes medications. Although Avandia has many beneficial effects on blood sugar, it may also have effects on good cholesterol (HDL), bad cholesterol (LDL), and free fatty acids.

 

Cholesterol Effects of Avandia: What Does the Research Show?

In studies, Avandia increased LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) by 14.1 to 18.6 percent. However, it also increased HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) by 11.4 to 14.2 percent. While these changes cause an increase in total cholesterol, they usually keep the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL the same. In other words, Avandia increases both good and bad cholesterol by about the same amount.

 

 

Free Fatty Acids and Avandia

In these same studies, Avandia was shown to decrease free fatty acids by as much as 14. 7 percent. Free fatty acids are related to triglycerides, but are not the same as triglycerides. In fact, triglyceride levels did not change in these studies. Free fatty acids are often higher in people who are obese or who have diabetes, and may be linked to insulin resistance or other diabetes complications.