Scientists reveal mechanistic link between zinc levels and diabetes

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Researchers have identified a mechanistic link between zinc levels in humans and the risk of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.

. The results will be of interest to researchers working on metabolism and the biology of trace elements alike.glucose metabolism

To explore the diabetes-protective role of zinc, Chim and colleagues tested loss-of-function mutations from genetic sequence data collected from a large population of participants of European ancestry who took part in the Regeneron Genetics Center-Geisinger Health System DiscovEHR study. This identified a rare mutation that causes loss of function in a zinc transporter protein called SLC39A5, associated with increased circulating zinc levels.

Having identified SLC39A5 as an important clinical link between zinc and diabetes, the team explored its function by genetically engineering mice lacking the zinc transporter protein. As anticipated, these mice had elevated blood and tissue levels of zinc. When the team fed mice a high-fat, high-fructose diet to induce obesity, there was a significant reduction in fasting glucose compared to the control mice fed the same diet. Similar results were observed in a congenital model of obesity.

 

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