Intervention: Salsalate
Trial phase: Phase 2
ATC code: N02BA06
SMILES: O=C(Oc1ccccc1C(=O)O)c1ccccc1O
Sex: All
Age groups: Adult | Older Adult
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Participants at risk: 14
Group description: Salsalate 1.5 g twice per day by mouth for 4 weeks
Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Willing and able to provide written, signed informed consent after the nature of the study has been explained, and prior to any research-related procedures.
Age is > or = 50 and < or = 79 years (older) or > or = 18 and < or = 39 years of age
healthy, as determined by health history questionnaire, medical history and physical examination by physician or nurse practitioner, blood and urine chemistries, resting blood pressure and exercise 12-lead ECG
blood chemistries indicative of normal renal (creatinine <2.2 mg/dl), normal liver, i.e., <3 times upper limit for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and thyroid function (TSH between 0.4 - 5.0 mU/L)
If currently receiving treatment with or taking any of the following supplements, be willing and able to discontinue taking them for 2 weeks prior and throughout the treatment period: Vitamin C, E or other multivitamins containing vitamin C or E; nutraceuticals containing vitamin C or E
No history of cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart attack, stroke, heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy), Type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary or peripheral arterial disease
Middle-aged/older females will be postmenopausal at least 1 year, had tubal ligation at least 1 year prior to screening, or who have had a total hysterectomy.
Sedentary or recreationally active defined as performs regular aerobic exercise (30 min or more of vigorous walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, etc) less than 3 days/week or less than 12 days/month over the last year
Non-smokers, defined as no history of smoking, no smoking for at least the past 1 year
Normal resting 12-lead ECG.

Exclusion Criteria:

History of cardiovascular disease such as heart angioplasty/stent or bypass surgery, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure with or without LV ejection fraction <40%, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart transplantation, Type 2 diabetes and Type 1 diabetes
Smoking or history of smoking within past one year
History of gastric ulcers, bleeding disorders, dyspepsia, severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or metabolic acidosis
History of asthma or lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD)
Abnormal resting 12-lead ECG (e.g., evidence of myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, left-bundle branch block, 2nd or 3rd degree atrioventricular (AV) block, atrial fibrillation/flutter)
Serious neurologic disorders including seizures
History of renal failure, dialysis or kidney transplant
Serum creatinine > 2.2 mg/dL, or hepatic enzyme concentrations > 3 times the upper limit of normal
History of HIV infection, hepatic cirrhosis, other preexisting liver disease, or positive HIV, Hepatitis B or C test at screening.
Use of any investigational product or investigational medical device within 30 days prior to screening, or requirement for any investigational agent prior to completion of all scheduled study assessments.
History of recent chicken pox, shingles or influenza (ie., risk of Reye's syndrome) Recent flu-like symptoms within the past 2 weeks
Pregnant or breastfeeding at screening, or planning to become pregnant (self or partner) at any time during the study. A urinary pregnancy test will be done on all females. If test is positive, the subject will be excluded.
Women with history of hormone replacement therapy within the past 6 months
History of rheumatoid arthritis, Grave's disease, systemic lupus erythematosis, and Wegener's granulomatosis;
Taking medications for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, liver disease, asthma, sepsis or seizure disorders;
Taking lipid lowering (e.g., statins, niacin), glycemic control (e.g. metformin, insulin), anticoagulation, anti-seizure, anti-depression or antipsychotic agents
History of co-morbid condition that would limit life expectancy to < 6 months.
It is unknown if Salsalate is transferred in seminal fluid of men. However, it is recommended that proper protection such as a condom be used during intercourse during the study.
Concomitant treatment with: aspirin, baby aspirin, indomethacin, naproxen (Aleve), acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; cox-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Vioxx, etc); allopurinol (Zyloprim, Lopurin, Allopurin; coumadin (Warfarin), enoxaparin (Lovenox); clopidogrel (Plavix); dipyridamole (Persantine); heparin; diabetic medications (Metformin, glyburide, insulin, etc), thiazolidinediones (Avandia, Rezulin, Actos); corticosteroids (prednisone); methotrexate, infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel); levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid); Levodopa; Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 inhibitors (e.g., Viagra®, Cialis®, Levitra®, or Revatio®); PDE 3 inhibitors (e.g., cilostazol, milrinone, or vesnarinone); lithium
May participate if use of the following medications are discontinued 2 weeks prior to participation: salicylate medications, aspirin, antioxidants, herbal supplements, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids; cox-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Vioxx, etc)
May participate if no use of the following medications in the 48 hours prior to experimental visits: naproxen (Aleve), acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), other any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Vulnerable populations (prisoners, etc.) are not included in this study because we are studying healthy middle-aged/older adults.
Any condition that, in the view of the PI, places the subject at high risk of poor treatment compliance or of not completing the study.
Hemoglobin <12 mg/dl for men; < 10 mg/dl for women
History of alcohol abuse or >10 alcoholic units per week (1 unit= 1 beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 mixed cocktail containing 1 oz alcohol)
Low platelets (<100,000 cu mm)
On weight loss drugs (e.g., Xenical (orlistat), Meridia (sibutramine), Acutrim (phenylpropanol-amine), or similar over-the-counter medications) within 3 months of screening
Any surgery within 30 days of screening