Asthma is a complex syndrome that affects an estimated 26 million people in the United States but gaps exist in the recognition and management of asthmatic subgroups. This article proposes alternative approaches for future treatments of adult obese asthmatics who do not respond to standard controller therapies, drawing parallels between seemingly disparate therapeutics through their common signaling pathways. How metformin and statins can potentially improve airway inflammation is described and supplements are suggested. A move toward more targeted therapies for asthma subgroups is needed. These therapies address asthma and the comorbidities that accompany obesity and metabolic syndrome to provide the greatest therapeutic potential.
Keywords: Metformin; Nitric oxide; Obesity; Severe asthma; Statins; l-Arginine.
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