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Genetics, Alcohol Consumption Directly Related to Insulin Secretion, Scientists Report

Update 09.11.2022

Alcohol consumption and genetic factors combine to influence insulin secretion, shows new study by Korean researchers


Type 2 diabetes, which typically involves reduced insulin secretion, is caused by an interplay of several underlying genetic and environmental factorsbut what role does alcohol consumption play? A new study published in Scientific Reports shows that the presence of a specific variant of the KCNJ11 gene called rs5219 in drinkers reduces insulin secretion. The findings of this study add to the awareness about alcohol consumption and its various harmful effects on physiology and metabolism.

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New study reveals that alcohol consumption works in combination with specific genetic variations results in decreased insulin secretion

Photo Courtesy: Pexels


The sugars that we eat are broken down in the digestive process by the hormone insulin synthesized by the “beta-cells” in the pancreas. In certain people, the body becomes resistant to insulin, or sometimes the production and secretion of insulin by beta-cells get impaired. This condition is what is commonly known as type 2 diabetes (T2D).


The reasons behind beta-cell dysfunction in T2D are still not completely known. However, multiple studies suggest that an interaction of several genetic and environmental risk factors may be associated with the disease condition. Among the environmental and lifestyle factors, alcohol consumption is a significant factor that has an association with T2D risk; while light intake actually has a protective role against T2D, heavy consumption is known to increase the risk of T2D.


Now, researchers from Korea have identified an association between the genetic mutation (or variant) rs5219 (in which the amino acid glutamate changes to lysine) of the KCNJ11 gene—which “codes for” an important protein in the pancreatic beta cells—and alcohol consumption that results in a decrease in insulin secretion. The study, led by Dr. Yun Ji Ho and Dr. Yoo Min-Gyu from the Korea National Institute of Health and supported by the Korea National Institute of Health (2019-NI-088-01), has been published online in Scientific Reports. Dr. Yun says, “Our study suggests that long-term exposure to alcohol with the corresponding genetic mutation impairs the regulation of insulin secretion, which can even lead to the onset of T2D and further chronic diseases.”


The researchers studied the association between insulin secretion and the presence of the genetic variant rs5219 along with alcohol consumption in a Korean cohort and conducted a follow-up of 12 years. While they found no correlation between insulin secretion and alcohol drinkers and abstainers, in participants with mutation rs5219 in one copy of the KCNJ11 gene (risk group), the glucose levels were higher in drinkers than in abstainers. Additionally, the drinkers of the risk group also showed an increased risk of beta-cell dysfunction compared to abstainers. However, no such association was observed in the drinkers and abstainers of the group without any mutation in the gene.


The result of the 12-year follow-up showed that in the risk group, alcohol consumption reduced the secretion of insulin. Dr. Yun concludes the results of the study, “We found that the function of insulin secretion is reduced through the synergistic effect of genetic and environmental factors as a result of long-term ingestion of alcohol, an environmental factor.”


Alcohol consumption is a common practice in all cultures and being aware of its ill effects is extremely important. After all the inconclusive findings of studies on the role of alcohol consumption in insulin secretion, this new study ends the debate and confirms the harmful effects of its alcohol consumption. The researchers say that further studies on the interaction of genes and environmental factors are required to understand the complex mechanisms of T2D.


Nevertheless, this is a clear indication that genetics and environmental factors are both culprits when it comes to insulin secretion and, maybe, even the onset of T2D!



Reference

Authors                                 Ji Ho Yun, MinGyu Yoo, Ji Young Park, HyeJa Lee and Sang Ick Park

Title of original paper             Association between KCNJ11 rs5219 variant and alcohol consumption on the effect of insulin secretion 

                                              in a communitybased Korean cohort: a 12year followup study

Journal                                  Scientific Reports

DOI                                       10.1038/s41598-021-84179-9

Affiliations                              Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Center for Biomedical Science, Korea National Institute of Health


About National Institute of Health in Korea

The Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH), one of the major operating components of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, leads the nation’s medical research. Over the past seven decades, the KNIH has made unwavering efforts to enhance the public’s health and innovate biomedical research. The KNIH seeks to eradicate diseases and make people healthier. The KNIH establishes a scientific basis and evidence underlying health policy as well as provides national research infrastructures. We also promote public health research. To this end, we make efforts to enrich a health research environment by granting funds to research projects and keeping our resources, data, and facilities more open and accessible to researchers.


Website: http://www.nih.go.kr/eng/


About Dr. Ji Ho Yun and Dr. Yoo Min-Gyu

Dr. Ji Ho Yun is the Principal Researcher at Division of Endocrine and Kidney Disease Research at Korea National Institute of Health (KNIH). 

Dr. Yoo Min-Gyu is the Senior Researcher at Division of Endocrine and kidney Disease Research at KNIH. 

They have both conducted integrated and linkage analysis of domestic clinical and epidemiological information and omics data for the prevention and management of diabetes, obesity, and kidney disease suitable for Korean characteristics. They are involved in the research carried out to contribute to the improvement of public health by discovering precise indicators for early prediction, prevention, and management of high-risk groups.

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