The Effect of SGLT2 Inhibition on Adipose Inflammation and Endothelial Function
Obesity is associated with increased cardiometabolic disease risk due, in part, to heightened chronic inflammation arising from adipose tissue. There are no current targeted therapies to prevent or reverse the chronic inflammation of obesity, and a better understanding of these inflammatory pathways in humans is key to future therapeutic interventions. This trial will determine both the anti-inflammatory potential of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin, and the contribution of adipose inflammation to surrogate measures of cardiovascular disease in a randomized controlled trial of obese patients.
• Age 18 to 70 years old
• Metabolic syndrome as defined by 3 or more of 5 criteria:
‣ Systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mmg Hg or treatment with anti-hypertensive medications for minimum of 1 month
⁃ Triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL or treatment with a triglyceride-targeted medication (fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, niacin, high dose omega-3 fatty acids)
⁃ High-density lipoprotein (HDL) \< 40 mg/dL in males or \< 50 mg/dL in females
⁃ Fasting blood glucose ≥ 100mg/dL or treatment with glucose-lowering medications
⁃ Waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in males or ≥ 88cm in females
• BMI ≥ 35 kg/M2
• Scheduled gastric bypass or gastric sleeve in approximately 90 days (range 90-270 days)
• The ability to provide informed consent