Researchers have found that increasing levels of the sleep hormone melatonin reduces the ability of insulin-producing cells to release insulin. In addition, they found that the effect was stronger in people who had a particular gene variant that was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Read in the estet-portal.com article about the study conducted by the University of Lund in Sweden. The results indicate that a gene variant that codes for a protein known as melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Melatonin hormone receptors on beta cells
Researchers have been working with lab beta cells and mice to show that insulin-producing cells respond to increased levels of melatonin by reducing the amount of insulin released. These signals are transmitted to them via the MTNR1B melatonin receptor proteins on the surface of their cells.
Genetic factors have been identified that determine the expression of the MTNR1B protein on the surface of pancreatic β-cells.
Finally, the team demonstrated that a gene variant that is expressed by about a third of the population increases the amount of MTNR1B protein on the surface of insulin-producing cells. This makes the cells more sensitive to the effects of melatonin, resulting in less insulin.
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Increased risk of diabetes: the role of the hormone melatonin
The research team selected 23 healthy carriers of the gene variant and 22 healthy non-carriers. All participants were about the same age, had the same body mass index (BMI) and showed no difference in family history of diabetes.
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For 3 months, participants took 4mg of melatonin before they went to bed. The researchers compared blood sugar and insulin levels at the beginning and end of the treatment period.
After 3 months of melatonin treatment, all participants had higher blood sugar levels. However, they were especially higher in carriers of the risk gene, who also showed lower levels of insulin secretion.
Researchers note that people who work night shifts are more prone to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
It is necessary to take into account the adverse effect of melatonin on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to approach the prescription of drugs containing melatonin in patients with sleep disorders very responsibly. At the same time, insomnia should be corrected with other drugs in order to reduce the risk of developing a metabolic disorder in glucose utilization.
You may be interested in the article on our website estet-portal.com in the section "Endocrinology" How the hormone melatonin helps prevent aging
According to Cell Metabolism
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