Lower Diabetes Risk at High Altitudes Explained by Science

Alanbatnews -

People living in high-altitude regions may have a lower risk of developing diabetes due to how their bodies adapt to lower oxygen levels, according to a new study by researchers at Gladstone Institutes.

The research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, reveals that reduced oxygen levels in mountainous areas cause red blood cells to alter their metabolic function, effectively becoming glucose sponges that absorb sugar from the bloodstream.

This adaptation not only helps the body cope with thinner air but also helps reduce blood sugar levels, the study found.

Traditionally, red blood cells are known for transporting oxygen to the body's tissues. However, scientists discovered that in oxygen-deprived conditions, these cells significantly increase their glucose consumption.

Experiments on mice showed that exposure to a low-oxygen environment led to a rapid decrease in blood sugar levels after eating. Researchers determined that neither muscles, the liver, nor the brain were responsible for this reduction.

Advanced imaging techniques revealed that red blood cells were the primary glucose consumers, absorbing large quantities when oxygen was scarce. It was also observed that the body produces more of these cells in high-altitude conditions, with each cell becoming more active in sugar consumption.

Researchers explained that red blood cells use glucose to produce molecules that help release oxygen to tissues more efficiently, a process crucial when oxygen is limited. This physiological adaptation simultaneously reduces the amount of glucose circulating in the blood, improving the body's tolerance to sugar.

The research team stated that their discovery solves a long-standing mystery in physiology and uncovers a previously underappreciated "hidden reservoir" for glucose consumption.

The findings also suggest promising therapeutic possibilities. The researchers tested an experimental drug called “HypoxyStat,” which mimics the effect of oxygen deficiency by modifying the binding of hemoglobin to oxygen within red blood cells. In diabetic mouse models, the drug reversed high blood sugar levels, outperforming some traditional treatments.

Researchers believe that targeting red blood cells as a glucose-absorbing reservoir represents a fundamentally different approach from current methods, which often focus on the liver, pancreas, or insulin.

While the results are still in the preclinical phase, they pave the way for a new therapeutic strategy that could change how diabetes is managed in the future, not by reducing sugar production or increasing insulin secretion but by redirecting its consumption within the body.

The team emphasizes that understanding how the body adapts to oxygen deficiency may extend beyond diabetes to other areas related to physical performance or ischemic injuries, making this discovery the beginning of a broader research path.