Zhang KX, Kan CX, Han F, Zhang JW, Sun XD. Elucidating the cardioprotective mechanisms of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors beyond glycemic control. World J Diabetes 2024; 15(2): 137-141 [PMID: 38464375 DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i2.137]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Dong Sun, PhD, Chief Physician, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, No. 2428 Yuhe Road, Weifang 261031, Shandong Province, China. xiaodong.sun@wfmc.edu.cn
Research Domain of This Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Diabetes. Feb 15, 2024; 15(2): 137-141 Published online Feb 15, 2024. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i2.137
Elucidating the cardioprotective mechanisms of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors beyond glycemic control
Ke-Xin Zhang, Cheng-Xia Kan, Fang Han, Jing-Wen Zhang, Xiao-Dong Sun
Ke-Xin Zhang, Cheng-Xia Kan, Fang Han, Jing-Wen Zhang, Xiao-Dong Sun, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261031, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: All the authors contributed to this paper with conception and design of the study, literature review and analysis, drafting and critical revision and editing, and final approval of the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict-of-interests in preparing this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Xiao-Dong Sun, PhD, Chief Physician, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, No. 2428 Yuhe Road, Weifang 261031, Shandong Province, China. xiaodong.sun@wfmc.edu.cn
Received: November 25, 2023 Peer-review started: November 25, 2023 First decision: December 12, 2023 Revised: December 14, 2023 Accepted: January 16, 2024 Article in press: January 16, 2024 Published online: February 15, 2024 Processing time: 71 Days and 2.5 Hours
Abstract
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have emerged as a pivotal intervention in diabetes management, offering significant cardiovascular benefits. Empagliflozin, in particular, has demonstrated cardioprotective effects beyond its glucose-lowering action, reducing heart failure hospitalizations and improving cardiac function. Of note, the cardioprotective mechanisms appear to be inde-pendent of glucose lowering, possibly mediated through several mechanisms involving shifts in cardiac metabolism and anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative pathways. This editorial summarizes the multifaceted cardiovascular advantages of SGLT2 inhibitors, highlighting the need for further research to elucidate their full therapeutic potential in cardiac care.
Core Tip: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors like empagliflozin offer cardioprotective benefits that extend beyond blood glucose control, improving heart function and reducing failure-related hospitalizations. Ongoing research is essential to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, potentially revolutionizing heart failure treatment across various patient profiles.
