Effects of telmisartan therapy on metabolic profiles and serum high molecular weight (HMW)-adiponectin level in Japanese male hypertensive subjects with abdominal obesity

Aim: Telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), was reported to have partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) activity in vitro. Also, adipocyte-derived protein adiponectin, especially its high molecular weight (HMW) form, has been reported to have beneficial effects on insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of 3-month telmisartan therapy on various metabolic parameters, including serum HMW adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in male hypertensive subjects with abdominal obesity. Methods: This study included 19 Japanese male hypertensive subjects, aged 51.2 ± 7.6 (mean ± SD) years, and body mass index 27.7 ± 4.1 kg/m². In these subjects, 14 were naive to telmisartan treatment (40.0 ±15.7 mg daily), and 5 were changed from other ARBs to telmisartan. Serum HMW adiponectin concentration was assayed using HMW-selective ELISA kit. Results: In all 19 subjects, systolic/diastolic blood pressure (BP) decreased from 153/98 to 134/85 mmHg (p 0.001 for both). Serum HMW-adiponectin level increased from 2.06 2+ 0.81 to 2.40 ± 0.96 μg/mL (+ 16.4%, p = 0.017). Body weight, glucose, insulin, lipids and hs-CRP did not change during the study period, and there were no adverse effects in any subject. In the newly administered group (n 14), the results were almost the same: BP decreased from 155/98 to 134/84 mmHg (p = 0.0015 for both), and serum HMW-adiponectin level increased from 2.07 ± 0.68 to 2.39 ± 0.99 μg/mL (+ 15.5%, p = 0.089). Conclusion: These data suggest that telmisartan therapy is efficient for controlling BP, and may exert beneficial effects on HMW adiponectin in male hypertensive subjects with abdominal obesity.