(30-07-10) Gestational Diabetes can be Prevented by Dietary Changes During Early Pregnancy

by Mariam Antony, citizen journalist


A new study has found that it is possible to prevent the onset of Gestational
Diabetes in an expectant mother by making simple changes in the mother's diet.
The study, done by researchers at UCSF(University of California - San
Francisco), found that a chemical called serotonin influences the onset of
Gestational Diabetes in an expectant mother. Since serotonin is made from the
amino acid tryptophan which is found abundantly in high-protein foods, eating
foods rich in protein during early pregnancy may prevent gestational diabetes
in pregnant women.

Gestational Diabetes is a condition in which insulin resistance(caused by
hormonal changes) leads to high glucose levels or hyperglycemia in some women.
It can have serious consequences for the mother and child, if left untreated.
According to the researchers, the study "offers new insights into possible ways
to reverse non-gestational diabetes in its early stages".

How Does Serotonin Prevent Gestational Diabetes?

Pregnancy can cause several changes in the mother's metabolism. The energy
requirements of the fetus are met by increased levels of insulin resistance in
the mother's body. Since insulin is the hormone which carries glucose molecules
in the blood to the molecular cells, insulin resistance causes the nutrients to
be channeled in to the growing fetus instead of going to the mother's body. The
mother's body counterbalances the insulin resistance and prevents hyperglycemia
by the increased production of insulin-producing beta cells.

Serotonin, a chemical produced by the body and a known neurotransmitter, is
the underlying agent that signals the stimulation of beta cell proliferation
during the early pregnancy. Since serotonin is made from tryptophan - an amino
acid that comes from high-protein foods such as milk, eggs, meat and fish - the
study shows that increased intake of high-protein foods during the early
pregnancy can cause higher production of serotonin and subsequently higher
levels of insulin.

According to UCSF Professor Michael German, MD, who is also the senior author
of the paper, tryptophan hydroxylase (Tph1), the enzyme that produces serotonin
from tryptophan increased by as much 1000-fold during the early pregnancy. The
researchers found that inhibition of serotonin synthesis by restricting the
intake of tryptophan in pregnant mice blocked beta cell proliferation and
resulted in the development of glucose intolerance and gestational diabetes in
the mice.

The research indicates that anything that affects the production of serotonin,
such as drugs, diet or genetic inheritance may affect the risk of developing
gestational diabetes and possibly the long-term risk of developing type 2
diabetes.

Serotonin has been widely studied as a neurotransmitter in the brain for its
effects on appetite and mood, especially depression. Since it also influences
the insulin production, this could explain why some patients with gestational
diabetes experience depression. This would also explain the effect of some
classes of psychiatric medications on diabetes.

The study will be published in the upcoming issue of "Nature Medicine" and was
published online on June 27, 2010.

Resources:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_relea...
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/va...
http://www.physorg.com/news19685577...

NaturalNews

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.