Researchers have identified specific DNA modifications in people with diabetes and prediabetes, suggesting that the foods we eat and the amount we exercise has a direct link with the development of the disease. Specifically, the researchers found chemical marks on the gene responsible for controlling the amount of glucose or lipids burned by the body, according to a report in Science Daily.
Because these DNA modifications did not ultimately alter the DNA sequence of the individuals in the study, researchers are attributing the changes to environmental factors. Researchers have long claimed a link between diet and exercise and the development of Type 2 diabetes. The researchers say that they are unsure if the changes can be reversed, but say they have evidence it might be preventable. The study’s findings were published in the current issue of Cell Metabolism.
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