Potential Role of Copper in Diabetes and Diabetic Kidney Disease Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Metals
Metals
OverviewHeavy metals play a significant and multifaceted role in the pathogenicity of microbial species. Their involvement can be viewed from two primary perspectives: the toxicity of heavy metals to microbes and the exploitation of heavy metals by microbial pathogens to establish infections and evade the host immune response. Understanding these aspects is critical for both […]
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What Was Reviewed?
The paper reviewed the role of copper in diabetes and its complications, with a specific focus on diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Copper, as an essential trace element, is pivotal in various biological processes, but its imbalance—either deficiency or excess—can lead to pathophysiological outcomes. This review summarized findings from animal studies, human observational research, and clinical investigations to explore the interplay between copper metabolism and diabetes-related complications.
Who Was Reviewed?
The review incorporated findings from diabetic and non-diabetic human subjects, diabetic animal models (primarily rodents), and observational studies spanning a range of diabetes subtypes, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). It also examined patients with varying stages of DKD, from normoalbuminuria to microalbuminuria.
Most Important Findings
The review highlighted the dual role of copper in diabetes and DKD. Elevated copper levels in serum or tissue are often linked with poor glycemic control and oxidative stress, which exacerbates diabetes-related complications. In T1DM and T2DM patients, higher copper levels and altered copper-to-zinc (Cu/Zn) ratios were correlated with increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, indicating poor glucose regulation. In DKD, urinary copper excretion increases in advanced stages, suggesting that impaired renal function may disrupt copper homeostasis, leading to nephrotoxicity and disease progression.
Animal studies demonstrated that copper-chelating agents like tetrathiomolybdate and triethylenetetramine (TETA) reduced oxidative stress, improved glucose tolerance, and mitigated renal and cardiac damage in diabetic models. These findings emphasize the potential of copper regulation as a therapeutic avenue. The Zn/Cu ratio emerged as a potential biomarker for assessing metabolic and renal health in diabetes, with a higher ratio associated with better glycemic control and reduced DKD risk.
Greatest Implications
The findings underscore the significance of maintaining copper homeostasis in diabetes management. Dysregulated copper metabolism contributes to oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue damage, which accelerates the progression of diabetes and its complications. Interventions targeting copper balance, such as dietary adjustments, copper chelators, or enhancing the Zn/Cu ratio, could offer novel therapeutic strategies for preventing or managing DKD. Moreover, the Zn/Cu ratio could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in diabetic populations.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace element vital for cellular functions and microbiome health. It influences immune regulation, pathogen virulence, and disease progression in conditions like IBS and breast cancer. Pathogens exploit zinc for survival, while therapeutic zinc chelation can suppress virulence, rebalance the microbiome, and offer potential treatments for inflammatory and degenerative diseases.