Sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects and potentially improve muscle health. Studies indicate that sitagliptin can inhibit myostatin expression, a protein that negatively regulates muscle growth, and increase MyoD expression, a transcription factor involved in muscle development. This suggests that sitagliptin may have therapeutic effects on muscle atrophy or sarcopenia, conditions characterized by muscle loss.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Sitagliptin and Myostatin

Sitagliptin is an antidiabetic medication that works by inhibiting DPP-4, an enzyme that breaks down incretins like GLP-1 and GIP. These incretins stimulate insulin release and suppress glucagon secretion, leading to improved blood sugar control. Research has also shown that sitagliptin can inhibit myostatin, a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating muscle growth.
Myostatin's Role

Myostatin is a protein that acts as a muscle growth inhibitor. By inhibiting myostatin, sitagliptin may promote muscle hypertrophy (growth) and potentially improve muscle function.
MyoD Expression:
MyoD is a transcription factor that plays a key role in muscle development. Studies have shown that sitagliptin can increase MyoD expression, further supporting its potential role in muscle health.
Therapeutic Potential:
The ability of sitagliptin to inhibit myostatin and increase MyoD expression suggests that it may have therapeutic potential in conditions like muscle atrophy (loss of muscle mass) or sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss).
In summary, while primarily used for diabetes, sitagliptin's actions on myostatin and MyoD expression suggest it may also have beneficial effects on muscle health, potentially offering a way to combat muscle loss in certain conditions.