Biomaterial Database

The role of dietary ergothioneine in the development of diabetes mellitus. 1982

R M Epand

Ergothioneine is believed not to be synthesized by man but it accumulates to high concentrations in some mammalian cells as a result of dietary intake. Ergothioneine is known to chelate divalent metal ions with high affinity. Other substances which are potent chelators of divalent metal ions such as diphenylthiocarbazone and quinaldic acid are known to be potent diabetogenic agents. It is therefore likely that because of its high concentration in man and its high affinity for divalent cations, ergothioneine is a naturally occurring chelating agent which can be a contributing factor leading to the development of diabetes mellitus in some individuals. In one study it has been shown that some diabetic patients have markedly elevated levels of ergothioneine compared with normal individuals. The mechanism by which ergothioneine induces diabetes may be through its chelation of zinc which is important for the storage of insulin and glucagon.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002614	Chelating Agents	Chemicals that bind to and remove ions from solutions. Many chelating agents function through the formation of COORDINATION COMPLEXES with METALS.	Chelating Agent,Chelator,Complexons,Metal Antagonists,Chelators,Metal Chelating Agents,Agent, Chelating,Agents, Chelating,Agents, Metal Chelating,Antagonists, Metal,Chelating Agents, Metal
D003920	Diabetes Mellitus	A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by HYPERGLYCEMIA and GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE.
D004880	Ergothioneine	A naturally occurring metabolite of HISTIDINE that has antioxidant properties.	Thioneine,2-Thiol-L-histidine-betaine,2 Thiol L histidine betaine
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D005247	Feeding Behavior	Behavioral responses or sequences associated with eating including modes of feeding, rhythmic patterns of eating, and time intervals.	Dietary Habits,Eating Behavior,Faith-based Dietary Restrictions,Feeding Patterns,Feeding-Related Behavior,Food Habits,Diet Habits,Eating Habits,Behavior, Eating,Behavior, Feeding,Behavior, Feeding-Related,Behaviors, Eating,Behaviors, Feeding,Behaviors, Feeding-Related,Diet Habit,Dietary Habit,Dietary Restriction, Faith-based,Dietary Restrictions, Faith-based,Eating Behaviors,Eating Habit,Faith based Dietary Restrictions,Faith-based Dietary Restriction,Feeding Behaviors,Feeding Pattern,Feeding Related Behavior,Feeding-Related Behaviors,Food Habit,Habit, Diet,Habit, Dietary,Habit, Eating,Habit, Food,Habits, Diet,Pattern, Feeding,Patterns, Feeding,Restrictions, Faith-based Dietary
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man