A derivative of vitamin A could effectively treat Type 2 diabetes and promote cardiovascular health.
Type 2 diabetes has almost reached epidemic status across the globe, but a vitamin derivative called retinoic acid (RA) could help fight the condition, a University of Montreal, Nouvelles news release reported.
"In obese and insulin resistant mice, retinoic acid reduces the risk of cardiac apoptosis, stimulates the expression of cardio-protective genes reduced by the disease, and protects against the accumulation of collagen in the cardiac muscle, thus avoiding the occurrence of fibrosis and possible associated future complications," first author of the study, Daniel-Constantin Manolescu said in the news release.
Apoptosis refers to the process of programmed cell death.
"Blood glucose, insulin resistance, body weight, and adipocyte size were significantly decreased in treated animals, including abdominal fat, while dietary intake and physical activity were similar for treated or non-treated animals. This suggests an increase in basal energy expenditure," Manolescu said.
White fat acts as an energy reserve; it is a sensitive and hormonal tissue that is stored to meet unexpected energy needs. If energy intake is greater than expenditure over a period of time, weight increases and the metabolism is disturbed.
White fat as well as brown fat stores triglycerides, but brown fat has the ability to produce heat. Vitamin A is derivatives stimulate a "mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP1)" that uncouples the mitochondrial pathway; this process employs energy from the oxidation of nutrients, and produces adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
For a period of time heat is generated as opposed to ATP, which is typically used for the upkeep of an active immune system.
Exposure to low temperatures stimulates both brown and white fat as well as promotes the conversion of triglycerides to "free fatty acids and glycerol."
In brown adipocytes the fatty acids are oxidizes in the mitochondria and produce heat; this suggests brown fat helps increase basal energy in the metabolism. This explains why hibernating animals can gain weight each season without developing diabetes. Hibernating animals also acquire the highest concentrations of vitamin A in their livers.
Retinoic acid is believed to be involved in cell maturation and differentiation, and may guide pre-adipocytes to be brown as opposed to white. The researchers said process works as if there are "boilers" present to melt away white fat reserves.
"[Vitamin] A is a bioactive nutrient. The originality of our project is in addressing obesity and type 2 diabetes through the involvement of retinoids. We have attracted international attention and were named among 12 teams in the world to bring conclusive data in this regard," Doctor Pangala V. Bhat, said in the news release.
"Our studies on animals show that retinoic acid induces normalization of blood glucose and reduction of obesity. It is an important contribution to understanding RA action on the liver, fat, muscles, and the heart, and on retinoid metabolism, energy metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and insulin resistance. Our research identifies new metabolic effects of retinoids and may lead to anti-obesity and anti-diabetic medicines," Doctor Jean-Louis Chiasson, said in the news release.
