In an early pre-clinical study in mice, researchers demonstrated that a dietary supplement may help inhibit development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, conditions involved in development of Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
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In this early pre-clinical study, a naturally produced amino acid-like molecule called GABA (Gama Amino Butiric Acid) was given orally to mice those were obese, insulin resistant and in the early stages of Type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that GABA suppressed the inflammatory immune responses those are involved in the development of this condition.
According to study authors, GABA helped prevent disease progression and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, even after onset of Type 2 diabetes in mice. Researchers also identified the regulatory immune cells that likely direct GABA's activity in inhibiting inflammation.
In another development, Australian researchers have isolated a ‘master gene’ that controls Type 2 diabetes and say drugs that prevent or reverse the condition by switching off the gene may be as little as five years away
A number of genes are required for the normal functioning of insulin producing Beta cells in pancreas. The gene the researchers identified is probably the master regulator of those other genes. "That is why, it would be an effective gene to target,” said Dr. Ross Laybutt, whose paper on the finding, titled ‘Inhibition of Id1 Augments Insulin Secretion and Protects Against High-Fat Diet–Induced Glucose Intolerance’, is published today in the journal Diabetes.
“If we can block this gene, we might be able to prevent or even reverse diabetes.”
Dr. Laybutt said the gene, known as Id1, was already known to play a role in cancer and that drugs targeting this gene already exist.
He is now planning tests to see if those drugs could work to ‘switch off’ Id1 and prevent or reverse Type 2 diabetes.
Genetic control of type II diabetes can be accessed here
Image via WikipediaIn this early pre-clinical study, a naturally produced amino acid-like molecule called GABA (Gama Amino Butiric Acid) was given orally to mice those were obese, insulin resistant and in the early stages of Type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that GABA suppressed the inflammatory immune responses those are involved in the development of this condition.
According to study authors, GABA helped prevent disease progression and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, even after onset of Type 2 diabetes in mice. Researchers also identified the regulatory immune cells that likely direct GABA's activity in inhibiting inflammation.
In another development, Australian researchers have isolated a ‘master gene’ that controls Type 2 diabetes and say drugs that prevent or reverse the condition by switching off the gene may be as little as five years away
A number of genes are required for the normal functioning of insulin producing Beta cells in pancreas. The gene the researchers identified is probably the master regulator of those other genes. "That is why, it would be an effective gene to target,” said Dr. Ross Laybutt, whose paper on the finding, titled ‘Inhibition of Id1 Augments Insulin Secretion and Protects Against High-Fat Diet–Induced Glucose Intolerance’, is published today in the journal Diabetes.
“If we can block this gene, we might be able to prevent or even reverse diabetes.”
Dr. Laybutt said the gene, known as Id1, was already known to play a role in cancer and that drugs targeting this gene already exist.
He is now planning tests to see if those drugs could work to ‘switch off’ Id1 and prevent or reverse Type 2 diabetes.
Genetic control of type II diabetes can be accessed here
