Last updated August 18, 2026
Key finding
Pioglitazone treatment increased the cross-sectional area of adipocytes by 18% (p = 0.01).
Adipose pathology in insulin resistant subjects treated with pioglitazone.
Quick read
The essential study design details in one scan.
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Study type
RCTs
Follow-up
Medium-Term (3–12 mo)
Risk of bias
Some Concerns
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Plain-language summary
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Study focus
Adipose pathology in insulin resistant subjects treated with pioglitazone.
This study evaluated Adipose pathology in insulin resistant subjects treated with pioglitazone.
Limitations were not clearly described in the extracted text.
Published in
Publication details and source links for this paper.
Michael S, Lin Y, Akosua A, et al. The PPARγ Agonist Pioglitazone Improves Adipose Tissue Pathology in Insulin Resistant Subjects. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(7):e102190. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102190
Evidence network
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This study contributes evidence to Fish oil, Pioglitazone and Adipose tissue mast cell count, Adipose tissue macrophage count, Capillary density, and 4 more.
This study contributes evidence to
Primary intervention
Fish oil
Primary outcomes
Evidence topics
Primary intervention
Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.
Editorial context
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Evidence network role
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Related topics
8
Evidence pairs
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Contributes evidence
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Primary evidence
Evidence relationship
Related evidence
Evidence relationship
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Core evidence
The primary outcomes reported in this study.
Fish oil → Adipose tissue mast cell count
Fish oil → Adipose tissue mast cell count
Pioglitazone → Adipose tissue macrophage count
Pioglitazone → Adipose tissue macrophage count
Pioglitazone → Adipose tissue mast cell count
Pioglitazone → Adipose tissue mast cell count
Pioglitazone → Cross-sectional area of adipocytes
Pioglitazone → Cross-sectional area of adipocytes
Pioglitazone → Elastin protein in adipose
Pioglitazone → Elastin protein in adipose
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Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.
This study contributes to evidence on Fish oil and Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers, Thiazolidinediones and Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers.
This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.
Supplements
Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.
All studies measuring Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers
Measures Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers as a key outcome.
All studies on Fish oil
Contributes to Fish oil evidence base.
All studies on Thiazolidinediones
Contributes to Thiazolidinediones evidence base.
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1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
1 results
Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.
Thiazolidinediones may improve Adipokine and Angiogenic Markers.
ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.
Ranked evidence signals
Adipose tissue mast cell count
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Adipose tissue macrophage count
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a small number of supporting studies and should be interpreted cautiously.
Limitations
Thiazolidinediones appears to improve Endothelial Function.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Capillary density
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Pioglitazone appears to improve Cross-sectional area of adipocytes.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Cross-sectional area of adipocytes
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
Pioglitazone appears to improve Elastin protein in adipose.
ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.
Ranked evidence signals
Elastin protein in adipose
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study
Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.
Limitations
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