Effect of valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, on markers of oxidation and glycation in Japanese type 2 diabetic subjects: Blood pressure-independent effect of valsartan

Aims: Although it has been reported that angiotensin II receptor blocker inhibited the formation and accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in vitro and in vivo, whether it can do so clinically is unknown. We therefore examined the effect of valsartan on markers of oxidation and glycation. Methods: We started 40 mg/day valsartan treatment in 15 type 2 diabetic subjects with hypertension, and metabolic parameters, lipid peroxide, paraoxonase activity, platelet-activating factor acethylhydrolase activity, AGEs and urine 8-isoprostane were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results: Even after valsartan treatment, the blood pressure level of the patients did not change during the study. However, AGEs and urine 8-isoprastane levels had decreased at 6 months (p < 0.05 and <0.01) as well as urine microalbumin level (p < 0.01), although other oxidative stress markers were unchanged. Conclusion: In this study, low-dose valsartan treatment decreased serum AGEs level, whereas blood pressure level was unchanged. The effect of valsartan on AGEs might be a blood pressure-independent effect in type 2 diabetic subjects.