A new study led by researchers at Osaka University has found something surprising about a lesser-known substance in our bodies.
This substance is called D-alanine, a type of amino acid. It may play an important role in how we control our blood sugar and how well we sleep.
Amino acids are tiny molecules that make up proteins in our bodies. Most of the ones we hear about are L-amino acids, which are the common building blocks of muscles, tissues, and other parts of our body.
But amino acids also come in another form, called D-amino acids. These don’t usually get much attention, but they are found in the foods we eat every day. D-alanine is one of them.
The study was published in a medical journal called Kidney360. It looked at how D-alanine affects something called the circadian clock and gluconeogenesis. The circadian clock is our body’s natural rhythm that helps us stay in tune with the day-night cycle.
It controls things like sleep, body temperature, and hormone release. Gluconeogenesis is a process where the body creates glucose (sugar) when we don’t get enough of it from food. This process is important for keeping our energy levels steady.
In this study, researchers noticed that D-alanine levels in blood and urine change with the circadian rhythm. They used advanced tools to measure tiny amounts of D-alanine and found that it goes up and down based on the time of day.
The kidneys help control this by removing D-alanine through urine. Sleep also plays a key role in regulating how much D-alanine is in the body.
To understand more, the scientists looked at what happens inside the kidneys when they are exposed to D-alanine. They used computer tools and artificial intelligence to study which genes are turned on or off. They found that D-alanine increased the activity of genes linked to both gluconeogenesis and the circadian rhythm.
One gene regulator, a protein called Cry2, was especially important. Cry2 helps control the circadian rhythm. The study found that D-alanine’s effects were linked to Cry2. In tests where the circadian rhythm was disturbed, D-alanine helped bring it back to normal.
This means that D-alanine may serve as a bridge between the body’s sugar production and its internal clock. This finding could lead to better ways of treating conditions like diabetes and sleep problems. It also shows that D-amino acids, once thought to be unimportant, might actually play big roles in keeping our bodies healthy.
The scientists believe this discovery is just the beginning. In the future, D-alanine might be used to help people with diabetes or those who suffer from sleep disorders. It’s a promising step forward in understanding how our bodies work and how we can stay healthier.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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