Subacute or chronic inflammation, obesity, and dysglycemia are linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. Salsalate, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) similar to aspirin, may help reduce the risk of diabetes in obese adults by reducing glycemia and inflammation.

Researchers evaluated 20 obese adults who didn't have diabetes at the start of the study and again 1 month after taking either salsalate or a placebo. They found that those who took salsalate daily reduced fasting glucose by 13%, glycemic response after an oral glucose challenge by 20%, and glycated albumin by 17%. Insulin levels remained unchanged in both groups, but fasting and oral glucose tolerance C-peptide levels decreased in those who received salsalate. Also, circulating levels of C-reactive protein, a measure of inflammation, was reduced by 34% in the salsalate group.

The National Institutes of Health is funding a larger, ongoing study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of salsalate to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.

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