Colchicine to Treat Metabolic Syndrome: Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors

• J Levine
• AP Demidowich
• G Onyekaba
• S Khan
• MM Broadney
• S Brady
• JA Yanovski

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a growing epidemic, with over two-thirds of US adults classified as overweight or obese. Low-grade chronic inflammation increases with increasing adiposity, and has been posited to contribute to the development of obesity-related comorbid conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that administering colchicine 0.6mg twice daily for three months to obese adult subjects with metabolic syndrome would reduce circulating inflammatory levels and improve markers of metabolic health. Methods: 40 non-diabetic subjects were randomized to colchicine or placebo in 1:1 fashion. Fasting labs, frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT), and body composition DEXA were performed at baseline and at 3-month follow up. ANCOVA was used to examine differences between treatment arms, with age, sex, baseline body fat%, and Δbody fat% as covariates. Data were analyzed as intention-to-treat. Results: The primary outcome measure, SI (insulin sensitivity), was not significantly different between groups (p

Scientific Focus Area: Molecular Pharmacology

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