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 factors—but 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.
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, Min‑Gyu
Yoo, Ji Young Park, Hye‑Ja
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 community‑based
Korean cohort: a 12‑year follow‑up
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.