Type 2 diabetes: new insights into the role of diet
changes in metabolism can in the long term lead to widespread diseases such as Typ-2-Diabetes and cardiovascular diseases to lead. A German research team has now found out how these metabolic changes occur and what role they play nourishment it plays and how such changes over that blood fat can be recognized early.
In a recent study, researchers from the German Institute for Human Nutrition (DIfE) and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) have suggested that certain fat molecules called ceramides are involved in the development of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In addition, the team establishes a connection between unhealthy diet and adverse ceramide levels in the blood. The research results were recently published in the renowned journal “Nature Communications” presents.
Unhealthy nutrition increases the risk of common diseases
Numerous studies have already established the connection between an unhealthy diet and an increased risk of common diseases such as a Heart attack, stroke and Diabetes observed. However, the underlying mechanisms for this association have not yet been revealed in detail.
New markers of heart health discovered
The DIfE and DZD working groups have now discovered a new marker in the blood that can at least partially explain these relationships. Using state-of-the-art measuring methods, the team documented that certain fat molecules from the group of ceramides and dihydroceramides could be critical factors for heart health.
Background information: What are ceramides?
Ceramides belong to the subgroup of sphingolipids, which are important components of cell membranes, which also act as signaling molecules in metabolism act. They influence important metabolic processes, including the Insulinempfindlichkeit and inflammatory reactions. According to the research team, these blood lipid markers are significantly influenced by diet.
course of the study
The researchers have observed the blood levels and diet of several thousand test subjects over the years. At the beginning of the study, all participants provided information about their diet and blood samples.
No participants had type 2 diabetes or heart disease at the start of the study. During the follow-up period, around 800 subjects developed type 2 diabetes and around 550 developed cardiovascular diseases.
Using a novel blood analysis method, the researchers created a profile of the ceramides and dihydroceramides in the blood of each participant. It turned out that a person’s ceramide profile can be used to determine the risk of developing heart diseases and type 2 diabetes can be assessed.
How diet affects these values
“We have now been able to show for the first time that high consumption of red and processed meat was associated with unfavorable levels of diabetes-related ceramides”explains the first author of the study, Clemens Wittenbecher from DIfE.
“Our results suggest that the association between meat consumption and risk of diabetes could be mediated by the influence on ceramide levels in the blood”reports Wittenbecher.
“Detailed metabolic profiles in large cohort studies help us better understand the relationship between diet and disease risk”adds Matthias Schulze, senior author of the study.
Eating meat increases the risk of diabetes
“People who eat a lot of meat have a higher risk of diabetes”, emphasizes Wittenbecher. The ceramide levels make it possible for the first time to draw a demonstrable connection between the already observed connection.
Cardiometabolic diseases such as heart attack, stroke and type 2 diabetes are responsible for more than a third of all deaths worldwide, according to the research team. The relationship between ceramides and diet that has now been established opens up more targeted measures for the prevention of diabetes and heart disease. (vb)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Author:
Diploma-Editor (FH) Volker Blasek
Swell:
- Wittenbecher, C., Cuadrat, R., Johnston, L. et al. Dihydroceramide- and ceramide-profiling provides insights into human cardiometabolic disease etiology. Nat Commun 13, 936 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28496-1, nature.com
- German Center for Diabetes Research: Blood lipids provide new insights into the connection between diet and diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (published: February 23, 2022), dzd-ev.de
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.