(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Type 2 diabetics and those with any kind of insulin resistance may have a new option for controlling blood sugar levels.

A hormone produced by fat and other tissues called apelin has shown an ability to lower blood sugar levels when injected into mice. The effect was seen in both normal weight and obese mice, which suggests apelin might be a promising target for managing insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance happens when normal amounts of insulin in the body are unable to lower blood sugar (glucose) levels and is a precursor to diabetes. Earlier studies have suggested a link between apelin and insulin, but now researchers believe apelin may have a powerful ability to lower blood sugar. There is evidence that this happens because apelin is able to stimulate muscle and fat tissue to take up glucose from the bloodstream by activating a known glucose transport pathway.

Researchers believe animals and humans may grow resistant to apelin just as they do insulin and say their next step is to examine the effects of chronic apelin treatment in mice to see if the hormone can treat insulin resistance over the long term.

SOURCE: Cell Metabolism, 2008;8:437-455

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