An overview of salsalate as a potential antidiabetic therapy

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world. This is in large part due to the increase in obesity and the aging of the population. Therefore, new medications to combat type 2 diabetes are needed. Salicylates have been used as analgesics and antiinflammatory agents for several decades. Incidentally, in some studies it was noted that high-dose salicylate treatment reduced blood glucose concentrations. Recently, inflammation has been strongly associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. Some studies show that salsalate, which is a nonacetylated form of salicylate, reduces blood glucose concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as in insulin-resistant patients without diabetes. Postulated mechanisms include the inhibition of nuclear factor NF-kappa-B. Discussed in this review are the efficacy, safety and mechanisms of salsalate relevant to the treatment of type 2 diabetes.