Aspirin is one of the most widely used drugs in the world, according to the Aspirin Foundation. The aspirin you take today may be to reduce some aches and pains or even to bring your fever down. However, the effect aspirin is having on your body goes beyond pain relief. Aspirin can also affect how your body digests and absorbs glucose.
Aspirin and Glucose
Aspirin has a beneficial affect on glucose, according to a study published in the "Journal of Clinical Investigation" in 2002. According to this study, a medically supervised high-dose treatment of aspirin can improve glucose clearance, specifically in diabetics. Researchers took nine diabetic subjects and put them on an aspirin regimen of 7 g per day for two weeks. Results were favorable, indicating a 25 percent reduction in fasting blood glucose levels and a 30 percent reduction in insulin clearance.
Mechanism
A report published in the journal "Science" in 2001 reveals the mechanism by which aspirin may improve blood glucose levels. Aspirin is able to block the action of the ikB kinase Beta, an enzyme. Through this action, the body becomes more sensitive to insulin, the hormone that moves glucose from the blood and into cells. This mechanism allows the blood glucose levels to remain in a healthier range.
Dosage
Lead author of the report published in "Science," Dr. Steven E. Shoelson claims that the dosing of aspirin necessary for improvements in blood glucose is much more than commonly taken. For aspirin to work, you need to take between 6 and 8 g per day. The average dose taken for pain, two caplets, contains just 0.65 g of aspirin.
Safety
This research may be helpful for scientists and doctors to understand the pathophysiology of diabetes. However, taking such a large amount of aspirin may be unsafe. High doses of aspirin can cause intestinal bleeding, nausea and dizziness. The next step in research, Dr. Steven E. Shoelson claims, is finding a way to elicit the effects of aspirin without the side effects.
References
- Aspirin Foundation; The Chemistry of Aspirin
- "Journal of Clinical Investigation"; Mechanism By Which High Dose Aspirin Improves Glucose Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes;Ripudaman S. Hundal, et al.; May 2002
- "Anatomy and Physiology"; Kenneth S. Saladin; 2004
- USA Today; Researchers Solve Aspirin-Diabetes Mystery; August 2001
