Multifaceted interplay among mediators and regulators of intestinal glucose absorption: potential impacts on diabetes research and treatment.
Glucose is the prominent molecule that characterizes diabetes and, like the vast majority of nutrients in our diet, it is absorbed and enters the bloodstream directly through the small intestine; hence, small intestine physiology impacts blood glucose levels directly. Accordingly, intestinal regulatory modulators represent a promising avenue through which diabetic blood glucose levels might be moderated clinically. Despite the critical role of small intestine in blood glucose homeostasis, most physiological diabetes research has focused on other organs, such as the pancreas, kidney, and liver. We contend that an improved understanding of intestinal regulatory mediators may be fundamental for the development of first-line preventive and therapeutic interventions in patients with diabetes and diabetes-related diseases. This review summarizes the major important intestinal regulatory mediators, discusses how they influence intestinal glucose absorption, and suggests possible candidates for future diabetes research and the development of antidiabetic therapeutic agents.
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Leo Ka Yu
LK
Chan
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China psleung@cuhk.edu.hk.
Po Sing
PS
Leung
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005947:Glucose
angiotensin ii; catecholamines; cholecystokinin; glucagon; glucagon-like peptide-1 and -2; glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide; insulin; leptin; niacin; oxyntomodulin; polyphenols; renin-angiotensin system