Flying foxes, the large fruit-eating bats also known as fruit bats, might offer insights into diabetes treatment, according to recent research. As of 2021, diabetes affected approximately 11.6% of the U.S. population, including 14.7% of adults, prompting a search for new therapeutic avenues. Intriguingly, scientists are turning their attention to these flying mammals for answers.
Flying foxes thrive on a diet consisting almost entirely of fruit—a diet rich in sugar that would typically predispose humans to diabetes. Remarkably, these bats manage their sugar intake without developing metabolic disorders. This anomaly has spurred research into the bats’ biological systems.
Dr. Wei Gordon from Menlo College, in collaboration with Nadav Ahituv of the University of California, San Francisco, is leading studies into the unique physiological traits of fruit bats compared to their insect-eating relatives. Their research has unveiled that fruit bats possess a higher number of cells responsible for regulating blood sugar in their kidneys and pancreas.
In a recent publication in Nature Communications, Gordon and Ahituv noted, “Despite consuming more sugar than insectivorous bats, fruit bats can rapidly lower their blood sugar levels.” This ability suggests that insights gained from studying these bats could potentially inform new treatments for diabetes and other related conditions.
The authors of the study believe their findings could lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for human diseases, including hypertension, hyperkalemia, and diabetes. While it may seem unconventional, the physiology of bats might hold the key to a significant breakthrough in medical science.
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