Lactoferrin and diabetes: How the immune protein can influence blood sugar levels

Insulin resistance means that the cells of insulin-dependent tissue, such as the muscles, react less sensitively to insulin. As a result, the cells of the pancreas produce more insulin and a so-called hyperinsulinemia occurs. If this condition is long-term, there is a risk that the pancreatic cells will reduce their function and produce too little insulin [11].

If insulin resistance persists in the long term, too little glucose is absorbed by the cells and the blood sugar level remains high in the long term (hyperglycemia).

A long-term elevated blood glucose level can in turn trigger or exacerbate low-level chronic inflammation, which promotes the progression of the disease [5].

In animal studies, oral administration of lactoferrin over a period of 15 weeks was able to reduce weight gain, reduce the amount of visceral fat and also regulate blood glucose, leptin and lipid levels [6]. The corresponding sugar binding sites through which lactoferrin interacts with the various sugar molecules could be localized on the C-lobe of the molecule [7].

The intake of high concentrations of lactoferrin showed a hypoglycemic and insulin-sensitizing effect [9].

The proven synergistic effect with metformin, the most important drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, is also of therapeutic interest [10].

In addition to the insulin-sensitizing effect, an anti-inflammatory effect was also demonstrated here through the reduction of pro-inflammatory messenger substances.

The antidiabetic efficacy of lactoferrin can therefore be explained by the improvement in blood sugar levels, fat metabolism and the anti-inflammatory component.

Recommendations for the regular intake of lactoferrin could enable more effective blood glucose control than the sole intake of conventional antidiabetic drugs [9].

Lactoferrin also represents a natural and safe intervention option in the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders in general [9].

Sources

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