Play all audios:
In Greek mythology, the snowdrop flower serving as a source of galantamine was given to Odysseus as an antidote to memory loss and delirium. The Feinstein Investigators worked with a team of
colleagues led by Dr Fernanda Consolim-Colombo from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil to perform a clinical study of the effects of galantamine in patients with metabolic syndrome. In the
study, 30 patients with metabolic syndrome received doses of galantamine daily for 12 weeks and another group of 30 patients received a placebo during this same timeframe. Levels of
inflammatory molecules indicating patients’ metabolic syndrome-associated inflammation were tracked. Also measured were participants’ insulin levels, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) heart rate
and heart rate variability, and other metabolic and cardiovascular markers. At the end of the 12-week treatment period, those treated with galantamine experienced significantly reduced
levels of pro-inflammatory molecules and higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules compared to placebo patients. The experts said more research was needed, including longer clinical
trials - and trials which could examine galantine’s effects on type 2 diabetes. "These findings illustrate that it may be possible to treat inflammation in metabolic syndrome,"
said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, a co-author of the study and president and CEO of the Feinstein Institute. "Bringing down inflammation and insulin resistance may reduce the risk of
cardiovascular disease and other complications."