AMY1 Gene Copy Number May Protect Against Type 2 Diabetes

Having more copies of the gene expressing salivary amylase may have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes (Shutterstock).
Having more copies of the gene expressing salivary amylase may have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes (Shutterstock)./ Aljazeera.net


Recent research suggests that individuals with a higher number of copies of the AMY1 gene—which codes for salivary amylase—may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

 New Scientific Findings from Cornell University

A team led by Angela C. Poole at Cornell University analyzed saliva & genetic data and found strong links between AMY1 copy number (CN), salivary amylase activity (SAA), and type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.


  • Participants had between 2 to 20 AMY1 copies .
  • Saliva collection time affects enzyme levels—morning readings were consistently lower, underscoring the importance of consistent sampling .
  • For people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, each extra copy of AMY1 was associated with a ~43% higher SAA, compared to a ~14% increase in healthy individuals—PLOS One, July 2, 2025 .

This suggests a biological mechanism: during starch digestion, increased salivary amylase releases glucose earlier, prompting a faster insulin response, which may help regulate blood sugar and protect against type 2 diabetes .

Clinical Implications & Future Research

If confirmed in larger, long-term studies, measuring AMY1 copy number could become part of early genetic screening to assess diabetes risk from birth:

  • Early identification could enable personalized dietary and lifestyle interventions from childhood onward.
  • Further studies need to control for starch intake, monitor participants over years, and include larger groups .
  • A new PLOS One study confirmed that laboratory methods (qPCR vs ddPCR) are comparable and that diurnal timing matters in measuring enzyme activity .

Global Genetic & Microbiome Context

Gene–diet interactions shape AMY1 CN across cultures. Agricultural populations with high-starch diets—like the Japanese—tend to have more AMY1 copies, showing evolutionary adaptation . Microbiome studies also link high AMY1 CN with gut bacteria that may influence metabolic health .

Bottom Line

High AMY1 gene copy number may offer a natural defense against type 2 diabetes, especially for those consuming starch‑rich diets. Early genetic testing combined with lifestyle modifications could become a powerful prevention strategy.


References

  1. Devarakonda, S. L. S., Ren, J., Poole, A. C., et al. (2025). The association between salivary amylase gene copy number and enzyme activity with type 2 diabetes status . PLOS ONE, July 2, 2025.
  2. EurekAlert (2025). Study supports link between saliva enzyme gene and type 2 diabetes . Published by Cornell University, July 2, 2025.
  3. PubMed Entry: PMID: 40601572 . National Library of Medicine.
  4. Rukh, G. et al. (2022). Gene–diet interactions in salivary amylase and microbiome associations . Scientific Reports, Nature
  5. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). AMY1A – Amylase alpha 1 gene . Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

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