Adinopectin: The Secret Hormone in Type 2 Diabetes?

Filed in archive Research on August 31, 2007

In a mice study conducted by a team from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas found that a hormone called adinopectin is the reason why some mice can overeat without developing insulin resistance or diabetes.




According to the study's leader Dr. Philipp Scherer:

"...mice with an abundance of adiponectin, a hormone that controls sensitivity to insulin, and a lack of leptin, a hormone that curbs appetite, spurs storage of excess calories in fat tissue instead of in liver, heart or muscle tissue - places where excess fat can lead to inflammation, diabetes and heart disease.

This dichotomy helps explain why not all obese people are diabetic.

The message isn't that it's good to be obese, but that expanded fat mass, when stored in the right places, can help prevent diabetes and reduce the risk of heart disease."

Findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, which reported that the continuous firing of adiponectin resulted in very fat mice, but with normal fasting glucose levels and glucose tolerance - indicating the inability to appropriately expand fat mass in times of overeating may be an underlying cause of insulin resistance, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

It might still be a long shot before these findings can be translated into diabetic humans. But what's next after that? Adinopectin injections so that people can have the excuse of overeating without having to worry about type 2 diabetes. If we look at it that way, I think it isn't good. Humans, in general, should learn discipline and facing the consequences of their actions. Don't you think?

Source: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas