A new study published in Diabetology reported that abscisic acid (ABA), a naturally occurring phytohormone with roles in human metabolism, may serve as a sensitive biomarker for both diabetes and smoking-related health risks.

Researchers from the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli and collaborators analyzed plasma ABA levels in 209 participants divided into three groups: 52 healthy controls, 101 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and 56 smokers without diabetes. Results showed that ABA concentrations were significantly higher in healthy subjects (10.9 ± 3.8 ng/mL) compared with T2DM patients (6.8 ± 4.2 ng/mL), representing a 38% reduction.

Smokers exhibited the lowest levels (3.5 ± 2.5 ng/mL), corresponding to a 68% decline versus control. This number also corresponded with a 49% reduction compared with diabetics.
Importantly, a strong dose–response relationship was observed. The more cigarettes smoked daily, the lower the circulating ABA levels. This association was confirmed using statistical models even after adjusting for age and other factors.

It was observed that ABA plays a unique role in glucose regulation by facilitating insulin-independent glucose uptake through the LANCL2 receptor pathway, while also exerting anti-inflammatory effects via PPAR-γ and Nrf2 signaling. Reduced ABA availability, therefore, may signal impaired glucose handling, heightened oxidative stress, and immune dysregulation.

These findings highlight the potential of plasma ABA as a non-invasive biomarker for detecting metabolic imbalance and inflammatory stress. The study suggests that individuals with low ABA levels (smokers and patients with diabetes) may benefit from monitoring and, potentially, from targeted exogenous ABA supplementation.