The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges
Colchicine is an alkaloid traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions such as gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Currently, there are proposals for the use of this drug in several other situations, such as cardiovascular and liver diseases and diabetes. In this study, the current literat...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Fábio Vieira de Bulhões Gabriele Eliza Assis Ana Beatriz Cazé Jackson Pedro Barros-Pereira Gabriela Garcia de Carvalho Laguna Alex Cleber Improta-Caria Roque Aras-Júnior |
| author_facet | Fábio Vieira de Bulhões Gabriele Eliza Assis Ana Beatriz Cazé Jackson Pedro Barros-Pereira Gabriela Garcia de Carvalho Laguna Alex Cleber Improta-Caria Roque Aras-Júnior |
| author_sort | Fábio Vieira de Bulhões |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Colchicine is an alkaloid traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions such as gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Currently, there are proposals for the use of this drug in several other situations, such as cardiovascular and liver diseases and diabetes. In this study, the current literature on the potential of colchicine in the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) was evaluated. The inhibitory action of the NLRP3 inflammasome and other processes, such as reductions in the migration and activation of immune system cells, are effects observed in both in vitro studies and animal models related to colchicine, as well as the promotion of mechanisms of the intensification of lipid metabolism, the reduction of tissue fibrosis, and the reduction of serum glucose and triglycerides. These factors are associated with changes in the prognoses of patients with MS, which, together with obesity, has a high association with inflammatory mechanisms for its maintenance and secondary impairments to homeostasis. In humans, clinical research has rarely addressed the use of colchicine in obesity and MS, with only one pilot randomized clinical trial having been conducted, which identified a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect on endothelial function and the process of insulin resistance in this population. However, it is not yet possible to extrapolate its findings and apply its results to a broader context. Given the potential of this “ancient drug” in various pathological contexts and its good tolerability, it is important that its properties continue to be investigated and that more clinical studies be conducted to expand the therapeutic applications of this low-cost substance in patients with obesity and MS. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-957b4d40d2444611b1ef17f85f151f5f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2218-1989 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metabolites |
| spelling | doaj-art-957b4d40d2444611b1ef17f85f151f5f2025-08-20T02:05:06ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892024-11-01141162910.3390/metabo14110629The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and ChallengesFábio Vieira de Bulhões0Gabriele Eliza Assis1Ana Beatriz Cazé2Jackson Pedro Barros-Pereira3Gabriela Garcia de Carvalho Laguna4Alex Cleber Improta-Caria5Roque Aras-Júnior6Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40110-060, BA, BrazilFaculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40110-060, BA, BrazilFaculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40110-060, BA, BrazilFaculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40110-060, BA, BrazilMultidisciplinary Institute of Health, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40110-060, BA, BrazilLaboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Exercise, Physical Education and Sport School, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Sao Paulo 05508-030, SP, BrazilFaculty of Medicine, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40110-060, BA, BrazilColchicine is an alkaloid traditionally used to treat inflammatory conditions such as gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Currently, there are proposals for the use of this drug in several other situations, such as cardiovascular and liver diseases and diabetes. In this study, the current literature on the potential of colchicine in the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) was evaluated. The inhibitory action of the NLRP3 inflammasome and other processes, such as reductions in the migration and activation of immune system cells, are effects observed in both in vitro studies and animal models related to colchicine, as well as the promotion of mechanisms of the intensification of lipid metabolism, the reduction of tissue fibrosis, and the reduction of serum glucose and triglycerides. These factors are associated with changes in the prognoses of patients with MS, which, together with obesity, has a high association with inflammatory mechanisms for its maintenance and secondary impairments to homeostasis. In humans, clinical research has rarely addressed the use of colchicine in obesity and MS, with only one pilot randomized clinical trial having been conducted, which identified a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect on endothelial function and the process of insulin resistance in this population. However, it is not yet possible to extrapolate its findings and apply its results to a broader context. Given the potential of this “ancient drug” in various pathological contexts and its good tolerability, it is important that its properties continue to be investigated and that more clinical studies be conducted to expand the therapeutic applications of this low-cost substance in patients with obesity and MS.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/629cardiometabolic syndromesabdominal obesity–metabolic syndromeabdominal obesitycolchicine |
| spellingShingle | Fábio Vieira de Bulhões Gabriele Eliza Assis Ana Beatriz Cazé Jackson Pedro Barros-Pereira Gabriela Garcia de Carvalho Laguna Alex Cleber Improta-Caria Roque Aras-Júnior The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges Metabolites cardiometabolic syndromes abdominal obesity–metabolic syndrome abdominal obesity colchicine |
| title | The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges |
| title_full | The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges |
| title_fullStr | The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges |
| title_short | The Action of Colchicine in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Perspectives and Challenges |
| title_sort | action of colchicine in patients with metabolic syndrome and obesity perspectives and challenges |
| topic | cardiometabolic syndromes abdominal obesity–metabolic syndrome abdominal obesity colchicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/629 |
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