Proteins in blood linked to type 2 diabetes development

What role do circulating proteins in the blood play in determining the risk of whether a person develops type 2 diabetes? Are the effects of these proteins also associated with dietary changes?

A new study from Chalmers University of Technology published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has identified about 100 proteins linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, some of which could become potential targets for preventive interventions or drug development.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, and kidney failure. The development of the disease depends on both genetic factors and lifestyle, including diet. Diabetes is considered one of the major public health diseases. In Sweden, more than 500,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes, most of whom, about 85%–90%, have type 2 diabetes.

There are major benefits for both individuals and society in working preventively against type 2 diabetes, especially since the number of diagnosed young people is increasing. Changes in diet and lifestyle can greatly reduce the risk of developing the disease, and help prevent the progression from prediabetes to diabetes.

‘Potential targets for future drug development’

Proteins circulating in the blood can reflect an individual’s health status. Previous studies have shown that certain proteins can be linked to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In this newly published study, the researchers also focused on causality, that is, the causal relationships between the presence of specific proteins and the development of disease.

“We are particularly interested in finding proteins that are directly involved in the development of type 2 diabetes, since such proteins could serve as potential targets for future drug development or preventive strategies, such as personalized nutrition,” says Rikard Landberg, Professor of Food and Nutrition Science, and leader of the project.

Two independent studies confirmed the results

In the study, the researchers analyzed about 270 proteins involved in various biological processes relevant to type 2 diabetes, such as inflammation and insulin sensitivity. They analyzed blood samples from two large Swedish cohorts, i.e., individuals who provided samples and data at baseline and were then followed over time using national registers.

Out of approximately 9,200 participants, 486 developed type 2 diabetes during a follow-up period averaging 5.5 years. The researchers identified 112 proteins associated with an increased risk of the disease, independent of age, sex, or lifestyle factors.

“The great strength of our study is that we were able to identify proteins linked to type 2 diabetes in one cohort and then confirm these findings in the other, independent cohort. That’s quite unique,” says Rikard Landberg.

Dietary patterns linked to specific proteins

To explore possible dietary prevention strategies, the researchers also investigated how these proteins were associated with common eating patterns.

“We found dietary patterns among participants that were linked to these specific proteins, which is exciting. We haven’t established causality here, but it’s an indication of how diet may influence them,” Rikard Landberg explains.

According to him, the next step could involve intervention studies examining how specific dietary patterns, such as diets rich in whole grains or vegetables, affect the concentrations of these proteins in the blood, and whether such changes in protein levels could in turn influence disease risk.