Bones for Diabetes!
There’s possibly another benefit to drinking that extra glass of milk during the day. Apparently Type 2 diabetes may find treatment and prevention properties right within their bodies. Scientists believe they have discovered a hormone secreted by bones that helps regulate sugar and fat.
Osteocalcin is the hormone released by specific cells within bone which helps regulate blood sugar and fat deposits. Up until now, these metabolic pathways have remained in the dark. This finding could shed a lot of light on the control of these molecules.
Bones for Diabetes!
Osteocalcin functions to increase the secretion of insulin and increases sensitivity of specific cells to insulin. Finding this piece of the puzzle illustrates the inter-connectivity of the body's structures.
This is the first example where the skeleton is secreting a product that is impacting on other organs and systems within the body. Osteocalcin is acting as a hormone on other organs impacting how they react to the presence of sugars and fats. In mice it was shown that in the presence of osteocalcin there was an increase in the number of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas as well as a drop in the total fat stores.
These mice developed Type 2 diabetes and had trouble controlling their weight. They were not obese per se but had higher total body fat content than the controls. The next stages are to determine whether injections of osteocalcin can reverse the Type 2 diabetes and restrict the body mass.
The hormonal benefits of osteocalcin have been unknown to date. The potential as a diabetes treatment is still not established but it appears a lead has been established. So take care of your bones. Your health may rely on them more than we think.
