Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ligands for the treatment of insulin resistance.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of ligand-activated transcription factors that play critical roles in the regulation of energy metabolism. Synthetic agonists for these receptors are used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. Current data linking PPAR and/or PPAR ligands with the treatment of insulin resistance will be critically reviewed, with the focus on important advances over the past year.