New research has found that a generic arthritis drug, salsalate, decreases blood glucose. It's an atypical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that apparently is easier on the stomach than other NSAIDS.
I wonder how it would compare to metformin or supplements for improving glucose control?
Arthritis Drug May Fight Diabetes, Too
Study finds that salsalate helps control blood sugar levels
MONDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) -- A generic drug widely prescribed for arthritis shows promise in treating type 2 diabetes, according to U.S. researchers.
They found that salsalate -- an atypical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, chemically similar to aspirin but easier on the stomach -- helps control glucose levels.
The finding came from a three-month clinical trial of 108 people, 18 to 75 years old, who had type 2 diabetes. Those who took salsalate, the study found, had a 0.5 percent drop in levels of hemoglobin A1C, a measure of blood glucose levels. The decrease was in the range of several recently released diabetes treatments, according to the study, led by Joslin Diabetes Center researchers.
The findings are published online March 16 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
"These results are exciting," Dr. Allison Goldfine, director of clinical research at Joslin and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, said in a news release from the center. "They indicate that salsalate may provide an effective, safe and inexpensive new avenue for diabetes treatment."
She stressed, however, that the findings were preliminary. "At this time we do not recommend patients use this medication for their diabetes treatment until further studies are completed," Goldfine said.
Goldfine added that salsalate also could help combat atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). The study found that people who took the drug had lowered triglycerides and higher levels of adiponectin, a protein believed to help protect against heart problems.
Abstract:
The Effects of Salsalate on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
A Randomized Trial
Background: Salsalate, a nonacetylated prodrug of salicylate, has been shown to decrease blood glucose concentration in small studies.
Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of salsalate at different doses in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Design: Parallel randomized trial with computer-generated randomization and centralized allocation. Patients and investigators, including those assessing outcomes and performing analyses, were masked to group assignment. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00392678)
Setting: 3 private practices and 14 universities in the United States.
Patients: Persons aged 18 to 75 years with fasting plasma glucose concentrations of 12.5 mmol/L or less (≤225 mg/dL) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of 7.0% to 9.5% treated by diet, exercise, and oral medication at stable doses for at least 8 weeks.
Intervention: After a 4-week, single-masked run-in period, patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or salsalate in dosages of 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0 g/d for 14 weeks (27 patients each) in addition to their current therapy.
Measurements: Change in HbA1c was the primary outcome. Adverse effects and changes in measures of coronary risk and renal function were secondary outcomes.
Results: Higher proportions of patients in the 3 salsalate treatment groups experienced decreases in HbA1c levels of 0.5% or more from baseline (P = 0.009). Mean HbA1c changes were −0.36% (P = 0.02) at 3.0 g/d, −0.34% (P = 0.02) at 3.5 g/d, and −0.49% (P = 0.001) at 4.0 g/d compared with placebo. Other markers of glycemic control also improved in the 3 salsalate groups, as did circulating triglyceride and adiponectin concentrations. Mild hypoglycemia was more common with salsalate; documented events occurred only in patients taking sulfonylureas. Urine albumin concentrations increased in all salsalate groups compared with placebo. The drug was otherwise well tolerated.
Limitation: The number of patients studied and the trial duration were insufficient to warrant recommending the use of salsalate for type 2 diabetes at this time.
Conclusion: Salsalate lowers HbA1c levels and improves other markers of glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and may therefore provide a new avenue for treatment. Renal and cardiac safety of the drug require further evaluation.
