Nutritional intervention and drug candidate that reduces type 2 diabetes risk, improves incretin effects and insulin resistance

The worldwide increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) demands a greater understanding of preventive approaches and treatments, limiting the progression to diabetic complications. With early intervention and lifestyle adjustments, early-stage diabetes (prediabetes) may be slowed, stopped, and even reversed. Pharma are interested in therapies that slow or stop progression to T2DM, and very few treatment options currently exist. Therapies that target free fatty acid (FA) G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) can counteract early beta-cell dysfunction, defective insulin secretion, low beta-cell mass, insulin resistance and inflammation, common features of prediabetes. Our studies show GPR120 acts as a receptor for omega-3 fatty acids in pancreatic islets and intestinal cells, with potent glucose-lowering, insulinotropic and incretin effects, with enhanced beta-cell regeneration and function. We have new evidence that targeting GPR120 with naturally-occurring compounds (such as the omega-3 FA, α-linolenic acid (αLA) in flaxseed) can slow the progression and risk of inflammatory diseases such as prediabetes, obesity and T2DM.