Poor biological clock could lead to diabetes, obesity
September 20th, 2010 - 11:53 am ICT by ANILondon, Sep 20 (ANI): UC San Diego biologists have discovered biological clocks of mammals are related to development of obesity and diabetes.
It also raises the possibility that some of the rise in diabetes could be a consequence of disturbances in sleep-wake cycles from our increasingly around-the-clock lifestyles.
“We know that mice that don’t have good biological clocks tend to develop diabetes and obesity. And we know that mice that have developed diabetes and obesity tend not to have very good biological clocks,” Nature quoted Steve Kay at UC San Diego, as saying.
“But what we found that’s so significant is that a particular biological clock protein, cryptochrome, is actually regulating how the hormone that regulates glucose production in the liver works in a very specific way,” he added.
The study also indicates why shift workers, whose biological clocks are often out of step, also have a greater risk of developing obesity and insulin resistance.
In a process known as “gluconeogenesis”, when we are awake and eating, sufficient glucose is supplied to our bloodstream. But when we’re asleep or fasting, glucose needs to be synthesized from the glycogen stored in our liver to keep our glucose levels up - indicating the role of diurnal activity.
“And if that’s the case, can we find ways of fixing the clock to treat this disease? Such an approach would be a whole new way of thinking about how to develop new treatments for diabetes,” said Kay.
The results are published in the journal Nature. (ANI)
- Biochemical to treat diabetes discovered - Jul 16, 2012
- Potential new non-insulin treatment for type 1 diabetes found - Mar 25, 2011
- Genes controlling insulin 'alter' body clock - Sep 18, 2009
- Scientists discover better drugs for sleep problems - Apr 09, 2012
- Pair of liver molecules could control diabetes - Apr 09, 2012
- Liver's role vital in regulating body clock - May 04, 2012
- Missing sugar molecule 'increases diabetes risk' - Feb 25, 2011
- Circadian clock found in pancreas linked to diabetes - Jun 19, 2010
- Discovery to help minimise drugs' side-effects - Dec 21, 2011
- Jet lag pill that slows down body clock to help you 'catch up' 1 step closer - Dec 15, 2010
- Tangerines help prevent obesity, protect against heart disease - Apr 07, 2011
- Gut bacteria can control functions of organs: Study - Mar 01, 2011
- When you eat as important as what you eat - Nov 26, 2009
- Changes in fat cells linked to diabetes - Jul 07, 2010
- Fruit fly's response to starvation could help regulate human appetite - Apr 01, 2011
Tags: biological clock, biological clocks, biologists, bloodstream, cryptochrome, diurnal activity, gluconeogenesis, glucose levels, glucose production, glycogen, insulin resistance, journal nature, liver, mammals, mice, obesity, shift workers, steve kay, uc san diego, wake cycles