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[Chronic nicotinamide overload and type 2 diabetes.] [Ariticle in Chinese]

ZHOU Shi-Sheng, LI Da, ZHOU Yi-Ming, SUN Wu-Ping, LIU Xing-Xing, LUN Yong-Zhi

Key Laboratories of Biophysics of Liaoning Province, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College, Dalian University,Dalian 116622, China； Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki 444-8787,Japan

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a major global health problem. It is generally accepted that type 2 diabetes is the result of geneenvironmentalinteraction. However, the mechanism underlying the interaction is unclear. Diet change is known to play an importantrole in type 2 diabetes. The fact that the global high prevalence of type 2 diabetes has occurred following the spread of food fortificationworldwide suggests a possible involvement of excess niacin intake. Our recent study found that nicotinamide overload and lownicotinamide detoxification may induce oxidative stress associated with insulin resistance. Based on the relevant facts, this reviewbriefly summarized the relationship between the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the nicotinamide metabolism changes induced byexcess niacin intake, aldehyde oxidase inhibitors, liver diseases and functional defects of skin. We speculate that the gene-environmentalinteraction in type 2 diabetes may be a reflection of the outcome of the association of chronic nicotinamide overload-induced toxicityand the relatively low detoxification/excretion capacity of the body. Reducing the content of niacin in foods may be a promising strategyfor the control of type 2 diabetes.

Key words: niacin; nicotinamide; nicotinic acid; oxidative stress; insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes mellitus

Received: 2009-11-13　　Accepted: 2009-12-21

Corresponding author: 周士胜　　E-mail: zhouss@ymail.com

Citing This Article：

ZHOU Shi-Sheng, LI Da, ZHOU Yi-Ming, SUN Wu-Ping, LIU Xing-Xing, LUN Yong-Zhi. [Chronic nicotinamide overload and type 2 diabetes.] [Ariticle in Chinese] . Acta Physiol Sin 2010; 62 (1): 86-92 (in Chinese with English abstract).