Salsalate Efficacy in Blood Glucose Level Reduction in Diabetes

Several studies showed that obesity and fat deposition in the tissues along with inflammatory response may induce insulin resistance and finally type II diabetes. Salsalate can inhibit IKK and NF-KB inflammatory pathway. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of salsalate as an anti-inflammatory drug in blood glucose decrement of diabetics. This was a double blind case-control trial. Sixty newly diagnosed diabetic patients were randomized in the drug and the placebo groups. The drug group used were received 3g Salsalate per day (two 750 mg tablets every 12 hours orally) for one month. At baseline there was no significant differences between drug group mean fasting plasma glucose level (124 mg/dl) and placebo group (127 mg/dl) (P = 0.628). Twenty eight patients in drug group and 23 ones in placebo group finished the study. Salsalate had reduced significantly the fasting glucose in the drug group (20 mg/dl) in comparison to placebo group (P < 0.05). This study showed that using 3 grams of Salsalate for one month reduces 15.5% of baseline blood glucose level of diabetic cases. These acceptable results may open a new approach in the treatment of diabetes.