- Age causes blood vessels to become stiffer and worsens the performance of the endothelium.
 |
| Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. / Pixabay |
A drug currently in use for lowering blood sugar levels in adults with type II diabetes may have another unexpected benefit: It appears to reduce blood vessel dysfunction from the effects of aging. It is empagliflozin, belonging to the group of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.
A new use for empagliflozin
As stated in an article written by authors from the University of Missouri School of Medicine (United States) and published in the scientific journal GeroScience, when comparing the function of blood vessels in adults of two very different ages (a group of around 25 years old and another around 61), it is observed that the latter show a worse performance of the endothelium (the inner lining of the blood vessels) and more rigidity.
These traits are directly related to a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases, which are currently the leading cause of death in the world.
Knowing these facts, the researchers decided to replicate these conditions in animal models (specifically, mice) in order to test the effects of empagliflozin on them, and then fed a group of them the drug for six weeks.
After this period, the mice that had received the drug had improved in the indicators mentioned above, while those that had not received it continued with values similar to those marked at the beginning of the experiment.
Intended for older patients
The authors point out that, in any case, the best tool to minimize the impact of cardiovascular diseases is prevention through modifiable risk factors (physical exercise, diet, use of tobacco and alcohol...). Specifically, this strategy succeeds in minimizing the effects of aging on blood vessels, such as blood vessel stiffness or endothelial function.
However, for older people or with certain conditions that are less dependent on this type of risk factor, acting on lifestyle may not be enough. It is these patients who could benefit from this use of empagliflozin.
Although the experiment has so far only been carried out on animals (and, therefore, its results cannot yet be considered extendable to humans), the fact that empagliflozin is a drug already approved for clinical use can speed up the procedures for importantly, so the day when the cardiovascular health of older people improves may not be so far away.