Weight problems attributable to a high-fat Western food plan damages the pancreas, affecting insulin manufacturing and blood sugar management even after dietary modifications and weight is misplaced. The brand new analysis means that early intervention is required to cease weight problems from inflicting everlasting pancreatic injury.
Whereas the time period “Western food plan” isn’t strictly a euphemism for junk food, it’s often categorized by diets excessive in processed meals, sugary drinks, and different gadgets that entice the junk meals label. And, analysis has made us conscious of the destructive impression that consuming one of these meals can have on well being, significantly within the long term.
In a brand new examine led by Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet (KI), researchers examined the impact that weight problems attributable to consuming a Western food plan has on the pancreas. They significantly targeted on the tiny blood vessels of the pancreatic islets, clusters of cells that produce hormones, together with insulin, that regulate blood glucose metabolism and keep glucose steadiness.
“This examine reveals that islet vessel dysfunction is a hidden however vital contributor to glucose intolerance in weight problems, and that these defects might turn into everlasting if not addressed early,” mentioned the examine’s senior writer, Professor Per-Olof Berggren, from KI’s Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery.
Glucose intolerance is when blood sugar ranges are greater than regular however not excessive sufficient to be identified as diabetes. It’s a vital signal of elevated threat for type 2 diabetes.
The researchers fed mice a high-fat Western food plan (WD) to imitate weight problems and studied the modifications that occurred within the pancreatic islet blood vessels over time. After 12 weeks, the mice had gained weight and developed glucose intolerance. Their islet blood vessels grew to become structurally irregular, growing thicker partitions and lowering blood movement. The vessels additionally stopped responding to vascular endothelial development issue A (VEGF-A), a protein that performs a vital position within the improvement of latest blood vessels and the expansion and survival of current ones.
Whereas the islet cells nonetheless produced insulin, the researchers famous that broken vessels slowed down how shortly it acquired into the bloodstream, which contributed to excessive blood sugar ranges. Importantly, even when the mice had been switched again to a nutritious diet for twenty-four weeks, most of the issues endured. The blood vessels nonetheless responded poorly to VEGF-A, their construction remained irregular, and insulin launch was nonetheless delayed.
“This desensitization hindered the correct regulation of islet blood movement and vessel barrier operate, delaying the discharge of insulin into the bloodstream throughout glucose challenges,” mentioned lead writer Dr Yan Xiong, from the identical division at KI.
The researchers recognized a molecule, atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), that grew to become overactive in response to the high-fat and high-sugar consumption attribute of a WD. This overactivity blocked VEGF-A signaling, stopping blood vessels from correctly sustaining themselves.
The examine had limitations. First, solely male mice had been used, in order that they’re unable to inform whether or not the identical results occurred in females. Additional, getting old can have an effect on blood vessels. As a result of the mice had been studied over virtually a 12 months, it’s laborious to inform how a lot injury was attributable to getting old and the way a lot was attributable to food plan. Whereas the researchers recognized aPKC as a key participant, its upstream triggers weren’t totally mapped. And, maybe most significantly, whereas mice are a great analysis mannequin, the outcomes seen might not totally apply to people.
Nonetheless, the examine’s findings counsel that weight problems causes lasting injury to the blood vessels within the pancreatic islets by making them unresponsive to the protein that’s essential for sustaining vessel well being. On condition that the impact on insulin launch was unchanged even after the food plan was altered and weight was misplaced, it signifies that early intervention is essential, because the injury can turn into everlasting and contribute to diabetes.
“Understanding islet vessel pathology opens up new therapeutic alternatives aimed toward preserving islet vascular well being in metabolic illnesses,” Berggren mentioned.
The examine was revealed in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Supply: Karolinska Institutet
