Studies have indicated that residing at elevated altitudes decreases the risk of developing diabetes, yet the precise mechanism behind this phenomenon remained undetermined until now.
A novel investigation conducted by American scientists utilizing mouse models for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes revealed that as altitude and air rarefaction rise, red blood cells transform into “sponges” for glucose, thereby lowering blood sugar levels. The findings of this research were published in the journal Cell Metabolism.
When subjected to chronic low levels of oxygen in inhaled air, the glucose uptake by erythrocytes saw a threefold increase.
The researchers posit that this metabolic shift facilitates cells in delivering oxygen more efficiently amidst scarcity, simultaneously enhancing blood sugar regulation and reducing diabetes susceptibility.
While it is premature to ascertain the direct human application of this new knowledge, subsequent research and trials may enable the adaptation of this natural therapeutic approach for diabetes prevention or reversal.
“Red blood cells represent a hidden player in glucose metabolism that has not been adequately appreciated until now,” states biochemist Isha Jain of the Gladstone Institute. “This discovery could unveil entirely new avenues for comprehending blood sugar control.”
It is widely known that living at high elevations induces numerous physiological changes as the body adapts to varied environmental pressures. Pinpointing the exact nature of these changes and the reasons behind them, however, can be challenging.
These recent results stem from experiments involving mice exposed to low oxygen conditions, known as hypoxia. Initially, the researchers observed that the animals exhibited lower-than-normal blood glucose, but the fate of this sugar was ambiguous.
Any administered sugar rapidly vanished from the circulation of the mice, consequently lowering their diabetes risk. Yet, it did not accumulate in the typically expected sites, such as muscle, brain, or liver. Furthermore, this effect persisted for several weeks even after the mice were returned to a normal oxygen environment.
By employing different imaging techniques and conducting further analyses, the research team identified red blood cells as previously unrecognized glucose-scavenging entities responsible for effective blood sugar management.
A specific molecule was determined to be crucial, interacting with hemoglobin—the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells—by weakening its grip on oxygen and promoting its delivery to tissues.
“The magnitude of the effect was what surprised me the most,” notes biochemist Angelo D’Alessandro from the University of Colorado. “Red blood cells are typically viewed as passive oxygen transporters. However, we found they can account for a significant portion of the body’s total glucose consumption, especially under hypoxic conditions.”
This is a promising new finding, although researchers will need to validate their conclusions outside of mouse experiments to confirm the mechanism. It also aligns with prior studies illustrating how erythrocytes adjust to low-oxygen environments.
The observation that other animals exhibit comparable high-altitude glucose regulation mechanisms suggests this capability evolved across species to boost metabolic efficiency during oxygen deprivation.
Encouragingly, by administering a recently developed drug to diabetic mouse models—a drug simulating the effects of high-altitude living—researchers managed to reverse hyperglycemia in the animals, indicating that a treatment developed along these lines could eventually address diabetes.
While that ultimate goal is likely distant, numerous distinct research paths are now open. These findings might also prove beneficial in exploring other facets of hypoxia and the resulting adaptations.
This might also explain why Sherpas typically do not display the lower blood sugar levels common among other high-altitude dwellers; it is conceivable that genetic adaptations are preventing the proliferation of the “glucose-soaking” red blood cells observed in this study.
“This is just the beginning,” remarks Jain. “There remains much to uncover regarding how the entire body adapts to shifts in oxygen levels and how we might leverage these mechanisms to treat a range of conditions.”
- The information provided is strictly for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice for treating illnesses.
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