New Diabetes Marker Identified

[Angel]

When doctors want to identify people at risk for diabetes they assess them for insulin resistance. In the future, they may also look at blood levels of the RBP4 protein.

A new study reveals higher levels of this protein, which transports vitamin A in the body, translates to increased risk for insulin resistance and, ultimately, type 2 diabetes.

The research took part in three stages. First investigators compared RBP4 levels in people who had already developed insulin resistance to levels found in healthy people who were not obese. RBP4 levels were consistently higher in the people with insulin resistance.

Next they looked at RBP4 levels in people with normal body weight and normal blood sugar levels, but with a strong family history of diabetes. These individuals also demonstrated higher RBP4 levels.

From there, the investigators tested the theory that exercise could lower RBP4 levels and improve insulin sensitivity. As expected, people whose RBP4 levels dropped with exercise also saw an improvement in insulin sensitivity. People whose RBP4 levels did not decrease saw no improvement in insulin sensitivity.

The authors believe RBP4 could serve as an early warning sign for type 2 diabetes, especially in people with no known risk factors other than a strong family history of the condition. They also believe it might help measure the results of diabetes prevention efforts like exercise. Studies to see how vitamin A might be impacting insulin sensitivity and whether lowering either vitamin A or RBP4 levels might improve insulin sensitivity in people are also warranted, they write.