Researcher Awarded Grant to Study Pathways Leading to Statin Risks for Diabetes

James A. Hamilton, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics, has received research support from Kowa Pharmaceuticals America. Dr. Hamilton and his colleagues will study complex pathways of statin influence on insulin secretion and glucose metabolism to help further understand the potential risks in adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (T2D).

CVD is the leading cause of death in adults with T2D, a worldwide health epidemic affecting more than 400 million adults, including a significant increased risk in patients with insulin resistance and prediabetes. Elevated LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol that promotes atherosclerosis and CVD is treated mainly by diet and statins, which are very effective for most patients.

Recent meta-analysis assessing long-term clinical studies with statins have found that statins increase the risk of developing new onset T2D by approximately 10 percent and can be much higher in those patients with associated risk factors for diabetes and a decrease in insulin secretion and sensitivity, which are key markers of ongoing risk for T2D.

The intricate mechanisms related to the side effect of altering glucose metabolism are not yet clearly elucidated, and certain statins have a greater differential risk for this potential side effect at increasing doses.

“Whereas the mechanisms of how statins work are clear and their benefit of cardiovascular risk reduction well established, our novel cell physiology and glucose metabolism studies will help to provide a clearer explanation of the differential risk and interference in glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity,” said Dr. Hamilton. “We hope our research will help provide a greater foundation for optimizing individual treatment considerations related to statin therapy.”

Established in 2008, Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., is the U.S. affiliate of Kowa Company Ltd (Nagoya, Japan) which focuses on research and development for cardiovascular and cardiometabolic (i. e. dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis and T2D mellitus), ophthalmologic and anti-inflammatory therapeutics.