(October 27, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Metformin may be the most heart-healthy of all oral anti-diabetes drugs, but there is not enough good research data to properly evaluate the long-term effects of these drugs, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Here are some facts about diabetes:

•    In type 2 diabetes, the body loses some of its ability to produce insulin and/or respond to the insulin it produces.

•    Anti-diabetes drugs help with the production or response to insulin and/or help reduce the amount of sugar in the blood.

•    Without treatment, type 2 diabetes can have severe long-term effects on health.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University analyzed data collected from 40 studies that looked at the effects of all the oral anti-diabetes drugs available in the United States on the heart.

Metformin was associated with a reduced risk of death from heart disease, compared with other oral anti-diabetes drugs and placebo. There was also a tendency for this drug to reduce the risk of developing heart disease or dying from any cause, but these findings were not statistically significant. Another drug, rosiglitazone, was associated with an increased risk of heart-related illness or death but again these associations were not statistically significant. The authors acknowledged that there is not enough good research on oral anti-diabetes drugs to fully evaluate their long-term effects on heart health.

Today’s research demonstrates the need for better data on the long-term effects of oral anti-diabetes drugs but suggests that metformin may be the most heart-healthy.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.