PHILADELPHIA, PA, Jun 11, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) —
In a modern-day clinical trial of a medicine belonging to one of
the world’s oldest classes of drugs, researchers have found that a
drug related to aspirin and salicylate, which was first used by
ancient Egyptians and Greeks to ease pain caused by inflammation,
also has glucose-lowering properties and may be a potential treatment
for people with type 2 diabetes, according to results presented at
the American Diabetes Association’s 72nd Scientific Sessions(R).
Salsalate, a pain medication used for decades as a treatment for
rheumatoid arthritis, is notable for lacking many of the side effects
of aspirin and is available as an inexpensive, generic prescription
drug. Small, preliminary trials of salsalate indicated that it may be
effective as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
“The exciting thing here is that this drug is relatively inexpensive
and has a long safety record for other uses, such as treating joint
pain,” said Steven Shoelson, MD, PhD, Associate Director of Research
at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Principal Investigator for the
study. “We now have to determine whether the degree to which this
drug lowers blood glucose levels is large enough to warrant using it
as an addition to the diabetes drug armamentarium.”
In a year-long trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health,
researchers compared use of salsalate to placebo in 286 patients with
type 2 diabetes and found that it reduced A1C levels (a measure of
average blood glucose levels over time) by 0.24 percent and fasting
blood glucose levels by 11 mg/dl over 48 weeks. Although these
improvements may seem modest, the group taking salsalate achieved
them while requiring lower doses of other diabetes medications
compared to the control group.
Researchers also found evidence of the drug’s anti-inflammatory
effects. White blood cell, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts decreased
in those who took the drug, from high levels to lower levels within
the normal range. While anti-inflammatory effects of salsalate have
long been known, these particular effects have not been documented
previously in clinical trials. In addition, those who took the drug
saw an increase in adiponectin of 21 percent and a decrease in uric
acid of 11 percent, suggesting some cardiovascular protective
qualities and a potential reduction in risk for gout, which is often
associated with diabetes.
Side effects included minimal weight gain of 2.2 pounds (1 kg) over
the study’s duration and slightly elevated cholesterol (a rise of 8
mg/dl over a year). However, triglyceride levels dropped in those who
took the drug, compared to those who took placebo. Finally, there was
a small change in urinary albumin (1.8 micrograms per mg of
creatinine), which reversed upon discontinuation of the drug,
suggesting there may be some impact on kidney function. However,
there was no change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is
considered the major indicator of kidney function.
Press Conference: Sunday, June 10, 1 p.m. ET
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop
Diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected
by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and
manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities;
provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those
denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission
is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all
people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the
American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or
visit
www.diabetes.org . Information from both these sources is
available in English and Spanish.
Contact:
Christine Feheley
(703) 253-4374
Colleen Fogarty
(703) 549-1500, ext. 2146
News Room: June 8-12, 2012
Room 107, Pennsylvania Convention Center
(215) 418-2030
SOURCE: American Diabetes Association
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