Objective: To assess the effects of short-term treatment of sodium rosiglitazone or rosiglitazone maleate on abdominal fat distribution in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods: 36 patients with type 2 diabetes who were inadequately controlled by sulfonylureas were randomized into two groups

Group A and Group B

treated with sodium rosiglitazone and rosiglitazone maleate respectively for 12 weeks.Subcutaneous and visceral fat areas at L4 level were measured at baseline and endpoint by CT scanning.Results: At endpoint

the levels of fasting plasma glucose(FPG)

two-hour postprandial plasma glucose(PPG)

HbA1c

fasting insulin and HOMA-IR decreased significantly in both Group A and Group B(P<0.05).After 12 weeks treatment

visceral fat area and visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio decreased significantly in both groups(P<0.05)

and interestingly the subcutaneous fat area increased after the treatment(P<0.05).C-reactive protein level also decreased significantly in Group A and Group B after the treatment(P<0.001);There was no significant difference in free fat acids and lipoprotein in both groups(P>0.05).Conclusion: Treatment with short-term rosiglitazone in patients with type 2 diabetes leads to fat redistribution from visceral fat to subcutaneous fat.