Hong Kong – There is more good news in the fight against obesity and diabetes: current research shows that over-the-counter drugs for allergy and asthma actually helped diabetic mice.

Other studies have linked obesity with type-2 diabetes via a dysfunctional immune system. As a result, researchers indicate that the new findings could lead to new treatments, including better drugs or even vaccines.

A vaccine against obesity? This would have been science fiction only a short time ago.

The need for such treatments is significant. Obesity rates are rising rapidly, as are rates of type-2 diabetes. Surging levels of both health issues are an increasing public health concern.

Four studies total are published in the journal Nature Medicine which all point towards how obesity could cause diabetes and the two together be responsible for organ damage, heart disease and even death.

However, the link between obesity and allergy drugs revolves around mast cells. It’s the mast cells that control the body’s reaction in allergy and asthma symptoms. Apparently, these cells were also abundant in both the fat tissues of obese and diabetic mice – and are also abundant in obese and diabetic people.

Two antihistamines were shown to help stabilize mast cells: ketotifen fumarate and cromolyn.

Mice given a healthy diet (after being force fed to produce diabetes) improved moderately, but those given either ketotifen fumarate or cromolyn improved dramatically. If the mice were given both the antihistamines and a healthy diet, they achieved almost 100 per cent recovery in all areas.

While human trials have not started yet, this could be very good news for people who are struggling to control diabetes with diet with disappointing results. However, human trials will be necessary to confirm that this kind of treatment will both work and be safe.

Source: Reuters