Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil, 2023 · DOI: 10.46292/sci22-00033 · Published: July 1, 2023
This study looked at how salsalate, a drug with anti-inflammatory properties, affects blood sugar, cholesterol, and inflammation in people with tetraplegia (spinal cord injury affecting all four limbs). The study involved 10 men with tetraplegia who took either salsalate or a placebo for a month each, with a break in between. Blood samples were taken before and after eating fast-food meals to see how their bodies responded. The results showed that salsalate helped lower blood sugar levels and improved some cholesterol levels. However, it didn't seem to have much effect on inflammation markers.
Salsalate may be a useful pharmacological intervention for improving glycemic control in individuals with tetraplegia, who may have limited ability to manage blood sugar through lifestyle changes alone.
Salsalate shows promise in improving lipid profiles, specifically reducing free fatty acids and triglycerides, which are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the SCI population.
Future studies should explore the long-term effects of salsalate, its efficacy in individuals with less favorable metabolic profiles, and the potential for synergistic effects when combined with exercise and diet interventions.