US researchers vitamin D drugs could cure type II diabetes

How does vitamin D affect people with diabetes??

Many people in the world are suffering from the effects of diabetes. Researchers have now developed a new potential approach to treating type 2 diabetes that can effectively help sufferers. For this, the cells in the pancreas, which produce and release the hormone insulin, were specially protected with the help of vitamin D..

The researchers at the Salk Institute found in their current research that the protective effect of vitamin D on so-called beta cells (cells in the pancreas) can protect patients from the onset of diabetes. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "Cell".

Insulin deficiency can have fatal consequences

When so-called beta cells become dysfunctional, the body can no longer produce insulin to control the blood sugar (glucose). This can cause the glucose level to reach dangerous and even deadly highs, the researchers say.

Vitamin D has a great influence on inflammation

It has already been known that vitamin D can also be beneficial in the treatment of various types of cancer. In experiments on mice, vitamin D now proved to be beneficial in the treatment of damaged beta cells, explain the doctors. Vitamin D has a major impact on inflammation and the survival of beta cells, the experts add. The researchers found that a compound called iBRD9 activates the body's vitamin D receptor when combined with vitamin D. As a result, the blood sugar level in mice dropped back to a normal level.

Vitamin D influences the survival of beta cells

"We know that diabetes is a disease caused by inflammation," said study author Ronald Evans of the Salk Institute in a press release. In the current study, the vitamin D receptor was identified as an important modulator of inflammation as well as survival of beta cells.

Treatment improved activation of the vitamin D receptor

With the help of embryonic stem cells, the researchers were able to improve the activation of the vitamin D receptor. The scientists achieved this by performing a special screening of the cells. The physicians then tested the effects on a mouse model. In the animals with diabetes, the glucose in the body could be brought back to a normal level.

Researchers wanted to improve natural protection

The study began by understanding the role of vitamin D in beta cells, says study author Zong Wei of the Salk Institute. However, it was quite difficult to protect the beta cells by the vitamin alone, adds the expert. The scientists developed some ideas on how the protective effect can be achieved and improved. The combination of iBRD9 with vitamin D eventually led to increased production of certain genes that protect the beta cells. The activation of the vitamin D receptor can trigger the anti-inflammatory function of genes, which helps to better withstand stress conditions, the researchers say.

Further research is needed

In the study, the researchers looked at diabetes, but the results could possibly be important for other diseases in which the effect of vitamin D must be increased, says study author Ruth Yu from the Salk Institute. For example, the experts are now interested in studying the effects on pancreatic cancer. Although the new compound did not appear to cause any side effects in the mice, further testing is now required before the first clinical trials can begin. (As)