Obesity is much more than carrying extra body weight. It increases the risk of many serious health problems, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. One important but often overlooked problem is arterial stiffness.
Healthy arteries are flexible and expand every time the heart pumps blood. As people become older or develop obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes, these arteries can become stiff. When this happens, the heart has to work harder to push blood through the body, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
Scientists at the University of Missouri School of Medicine wanted to find out whether an existing medicine could help improve this problem. Instead of developing a completely new drug, they studied amiloride, a medication that has been used for many years to treat high blood pressure.
Because it is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, doctors understand its safety profile well. If it proves effective for other conditions, patients may benefit more quickly than waiting for a brand-new medicine.
The researchers carried out a Phase II clinical trial involving 116 adults with obesity and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance happens when the body’s cells do not respond well to insulin, causing blood sugar to rise and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Many people with obesity also have insulin resistance and high blood pressure, making them more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.
The study found that people who received amiloride experienced several improvements. Their blood pressure became lower, their blood sugar control improved, and their arteries became more flexible.
The improvements were especially noticeable in older participants, who often have greater difficulty regulating blood pressure and blood sugar. The researchers believe older adults may have had more room for improvement, although larger studies are needed to confirm this finding.
Amiloride works by helping the body keep more potassium. Potassium is an important mineral that supports healthy muscles, nerves, heart rhythm, and fluid balance.
Earlier research has shown that higher potassium levels may improve blood vessel function and help the body respond better to insulin. In this study, potassium levels increased as expected and may have contributed to the health benefits.
The researchers also found that the reduction in arterial stiffness appeared to result mainly from lower blood pressure rather than permanent changes in the artery walls themselves. Even so, making arteries less stiff can reduce the workload on the heart and may lower the risk of future cardiovascular problems.
Importantly, the team reported no severe side effects during the study. This makes amiloride an attractive candidate for future research because it is affordable, familiar to doctors, and widely available.
The study was led by Dr. Camila Manrique-Acevedo at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and published in the American Journal of Physiology under the title “ENaC blockade reduces blood pressure and arterial stiffness in adults with obesity and insulin resistance.”
The findings are encouraging but should be interpreted carefully. This was a Phase II trial involving only 116 participants, so it cannot yet prove that amiloride will prevent heart attacks or strokes. Larger and longer studies are needed to confirm whether these improvements lead to better long-term health.
However, because the medicine is already approved and appeared safe in this study, the research provides a strong reason to continue investigating its role in treating obesity-related heart disease.
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Source: University of Missouri.
