Diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy progression is due to impaired central carbon metabolism

What is it about?

There is an association between cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in type 1 diabetes and intermediates of central carbon metabolism. Compared to healthy controls the authors found that individuals with type 1 diabetes had perturbations in levels of several amino acids as well as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites that are associated with a measure of worsening CAN. As a result, they suggest that with further testing in larger cohorts the findings might lead to the discovery of biomarkers for CAN and potentially therapeutic avenues for the prevention of the condition.

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Why is it important?

Our study is the first to explore nutrient metabolic perturbations associated with type 1 diabetes and CAN progression. We plan to systematically study these metabolic pathways in model systems as therapeutic targets and as potential biomarkers in larger patient cohorts.