A group of American researchers is re-evaluating an old anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis, salsalate, proposing it as a possible cure for type 2 diabetes. For now, there are three small studies to support its use, but one evaluation on a greater number of patients is already underway. Since careful control of type 2 diabetes has been proven to slow or prevent microvascular complications of the disease, doctors are tempted to use all treatment options to keep blood glucose levels at bay. Despite this, despite using combinations of the new generation oral drugs, several patients still do not experience any remission from the disease, which is why researchers are still active in looking for possible alternatives. One of these is represented by salicylates, known for over a century also for their hypoglycemic properties confirmed by more recent studies. It should be noted that within the class there are two types of compounds that have different mechanisms of action: acetylates (such as the well-known aspirin) and non-acetylates of which salsalate belongs. An article published even at the end of the 19th century and then resumed in 1990 extolled the hypoglycemic properties of the latter and from that rediscovery, a group of researchers from the Joslin Diabetes Center linked to the Harvard Medical School in Boston conducted three small studies to evaluate its use as a therapy for the most common form of diabetes. The first studies, which involved a total of about 30 people, are described in a recent article in the journal Clinical and Translational Science. The first, lasting two weeks, saw the administration of the daily dose of the drug historically used to treat hyperglycemia (ie 4.5 grams per day). The second study involved a lower dosage, of 3 grams per day, to minimize side effects. The third, more rigorous from the point of view of the experimental design, lasted 4 weeks with a treated and a control group to evaluate the efficacy at the maximum tolerated dose. In the first two studies, both doses used after two weeks of treatment reduced blood glucose spikes after meals. The drug also increased glucose utilization, approximately 50% and 15% at the highest and standard dose; at the highest dose, the main side effect was tinnitus, which is a kind of ringing in the ears. In the third study, one month of therapy at the maximum tolerated dose (which does not cause the adverse effect described) reduced blood glucose levels as well as circulating fatty acids, improving overall sugar and fat homeostasis, and supporting blood glucose. ‘hypothesis that targeting inflammation could be an innovative approach to treating type 2 diabetes. A randomized, multicenter study was finally launched last year, initially involving over 100 people who received salsalate or a placebo. . It was subsequently extended for a further period of one year to include an additional 300 patients and is expected to provide a clearer picture of the use of this drug as a therapy for diabetes. The main aspect that must be confirmed is that the therapeutic benefit is maintained even at the lowest doses which are the best tolerated. The interesting prospect is that of having an inexpensive drug that can also be used in developing countries where diabetes is on the rise and the cost of drugs is inaccessible to most. (All rights reserved) The interesting prospect is that of having an inexpensive drug that can also be used in developing countries where diabetes is on the rise and the cost of drugs is inaccessible to most. (All rights reserved) The interesting prospect is that of having an inexpensive drug that can also be used in developing countries where diabetes is on the rise and the cost of drugs is inaccessible to most. (All rights reserved)
