Researchers have found that vitamin A may be crucial to the insulin-secreting function of beta cells, a discovery that could open the door to new treatments for diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes accounts for around 90 to 95% of all diagnosed cases, and this arises when the beta cells of the pancreas fail to produce enough insulin – the hormone that regulates blood glucose – or when the body is no longer able to use insulin effectively.
Type 1 diabetes, which accounts for the remaining 5% of cases, occurs when the immune system destroys beta cells, hampering insulin production.
In a new study, researchers from the United Kingdom and Sweden discovered that there are large quantities of vitamin A receptors on the surface of beta cells, called GPRC5C.
The researchers partially blocked GPRC5C in these beta cells. When sugar was applied to these cells, the team found that their insulin-secreting ability decreased by almost 30%.
The researchers believe that this finding indicates that a lack of vitamin A – found in liver, fish oils, and various fruits and vegetables – may play a role in the disease.
What is more, the team discovered that a lack of vitamin A led to a reduction in beta cells’ ability to stave off inflammation, while a complete deficiency of vitamin A caused beta cells to die.