New COVID-19 Study Suggests Combination Therapy for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetic Patients

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Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University have discovered a potential new approach to controlling type 2 diabetes and its associated cardiovascular complications using a combination of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). This novel therapy shows promise in reducing the rate and severity of COVID-19 infection in vulnerable populations, such as diabetics.

Key Takeaways:

  • The combination of PDE5 inhibitors and HCQ has been shown to significantly reduce fasting blood glucose and lipid levels, increase plasma insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, and improve insulin sensitivity in diabetic mice.
  • The therapy also resulted in smaller myocardial infarct size following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in diabetic animals.
  • The researchers believe that the activation of the Akt/mTOR cellular survival pathway was responsible for the salutary effects of the combination treatment.
  • The study suggests that pretreatment with PDE5 inhibitors and HCQ may be a potentially useful therapy for controlling type 2 diabetes and reducing the rate and severity of COVID-19 infection in diabetics.

Statistics:

  • The study found that diabetic mice treated with combination therapy of tadalafil and HCQ had significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels (-25.6 mg/dL) and lipid levels (-15.3 mg/dL).
  • The combination treatment also resulted in increased plasma insulin levels (14.2 ng/mL) and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels (3.8 ng/mL).
  • The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA and the Pauley Pilot Research Grant of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New COVID-19 Study Findings Have Been Reported by Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (Treating Diabetes With Combination of Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors and Hydroxychloroquine-a Possible Prevention Strategy for Covid-19?). Obesity & Diabetes Week. September 26, 2022; p 367.
  • Treating Diabetes With Combination of Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors and Hydroxychloroquine-a Possible Prevention Strategy for Covid-19? Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 2022.
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry can be contacted at: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. (Springer - www.springer.com; Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - www.springerlink.com/content/0300-8177/)