Can vitamin A deficiency cause diabetes?

Statistical data shows that over 29 million people in the US suffer from diabetes. Represents about 95% of all cases diagnosed, the disease occurs when the beta cells do not produce enough insulin, the hormone that regulates the blood, or when the body is no longer able to use insulin effectively. , Representing the remaining 5% of cases, occurs when the immune system destroys beta cells, preventing production. Furthermore, in a recent study published in the Journal of Endocrine, researchers in the UK and Sweden have found that there are large amounts of vitamin A receptors on the surface of beta cells called GPRC5C. Thus, study co-author Albert Salehi of the University of Lund, Sweden, also emphasized that partial blockade of vitamin A receptors in beta-cell mice eliminates the ability of vitamin A to bind to these cells, and . For their study, Salehi and colleagues also tested beta cells derived from people with and without type 2 diabetes.

Again, the researchers partially blocked GPRC5C in these beta cells. When sugar was applied to these cells, the team found that they had decreased by almost 30% their insulin secretion capacity. Because impaired insulin secretion is a major cause of type 2 diabetes, the researchers believe this finding indicates that a lack of can play an important role in the disease. Vitamin A can be assimilated by the consumption of liver, as well as various fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, the team found that a lack of vitamin A caused a decrease in beta cell capacity to reduce inflammation, while a complete vitamin A deficiency leads to beta cell death.

This finding suggests that vitamin A deficiency may also be involved in type 1 diabetes that is caused by the destruction of beta cells. Also, in animal experiments it is known that newborn mice need vitamin A to develop their beta cells in a normal way, most likely the researchers think, the same is true for human beings. However, the researchers point out that an increase in the intake of this vitamin, especially through, may be too risky. Thus, it seems that excess vitamin A is associated with. .