Scientists at The Forsyth Institute have identified a new potential key
to managing inflammation in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Inflammation
is recognized as a major link between Type 2 diabetes and many
complications that negatively impact a patient’s quality of life, such
as periodontal and cardiovascular diseases and arthritis. Reducing
inflammation in the body leads to healthier outcomes for people with
Type 2 diabetes.
The study is published by the American Society for Microbiology in the
journal Infection and Immunity. In it, researchers demonstrated
for the first time that resolvins – compounds that are naturally
produced by the body from omega-3 fatty acids -- have the potential to
shut-off, or resolve, chronic inflammation. The research may be
beneficial in the development of future pharmaceutical treatments.
“Emerging evidence suggests that continual inflammation is a critical
underlying component of many prevalent, chronic diseases, such as
diabetes and periodontitis,” said Dr. Thomas E. Van Dyke, DDS, PhD, lead
researcher of the study and chair of the Department of Applied Oral
Sciences at the Forsyth Institute’s Center for Periodontology. “Better
management of inflammation will lead to healthier lives with fewer
debilitating complications for those with Type 2 diabetes. That is why
it is important to fully understand the connections between diseases
such as diabetes and periodontitis, which are inextricably linked by
inflammation.”
Researchers believe the underlying mechanism of both Type 2 diabetes and
periodontal disease may be linked. The relationship between the two
conditions is also known to be reciprocal, as diabetes is associated
with severe periodontal disease while periodontal infection can raise
blood sugar, causing further diabetic complications. According to the
American Diabetes Association, in 2012 (the latest year in which data is
available) more than 29 million Americans suffered from some form of
diabetes, while the Journal of Dental Research reports 50 percent
of Americans experience some form of periodontal disease.
The published findings, titled “The Impact of Resolvin E1 on Murine
Neutrophil Phagocytosis in Type 2 Diabetes,” are co-authored by Van
Dyke, Bruno S. Herrera, Hatice Hasturk, Alpdogan Kantarci, Marcelo O.
Freire, Olivia Nguyen, and Shevali Kansal. To learn more, visit www.forsyth.org.
About The Forsyth Institute
The Forsyth is the only
independent research institute in the U.S. specializing in oral health
and related conditions. Founded in 1910, the not-for-profit organization
is focused on reinventing oral and overall health through pioneering
biomedical research and transformational healthcare practices. Forsyth’s
portfolio includes basic, translational and clinical research, an active
technology transfer and corporate collaborations effort, and community
programs that benefit underserved populations locally, nationally and
internationally. For more information about Forsyth visit its website at www.forsyth.org.
Copyright Business Wire 2015