Obesity disrupts normal liver function in mice
Your liver plays a vital role in your metabolism, the biological process which converts food into energy. We know that being overweight can negatively affect metabolic activity, but not exactly how. To better understand this, researchers compared the livers of mice which were a typical weight with mice which were obese. They were surprised to […]
Prenatal Fentanyl Exposure Suspected in Novel Syndrome
A possible link between a novel cholesterol metabolism disorder and prenatal fentanyl exposure is under investigation. The hypothesis is that prenatal fentanyl exposure possibly interferes with cholesterol metabolism, leading to findings resembling Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) in 10 infants. However, Erica Fernandes, DO, a clinical geneticist at Nemours Children’s Health in Wilmington, Delaware, and study co-authors […]
Mice eating less of specific amino acid — overrepresented in diet of obese people — live longer, healthier
A new study in mice, published recently in the journal Cell Metabolism, shows that cutting down the amount of a single amino acid called isoleucine can, among other benefits, extend their lifespan, make them leaner and less frail as they age and reduce cancer and prostate problems, all while the mice ate more calories. There’s […]
Effects of COVID Vaccine on Menstruation
In this video, Victoria Male, PhD, of Imperial College London’s Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, highlights recent research on the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on menstruation. The following is a transcript of her remarks: We first started to think that there might be an impact of COVID vaccination on menstrual periods back in the […]
Genetic background has an effect on the metabolism of essential fatty acids
Genetic background has an effect on the metabolism of the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. Supplementing the diet with camelina oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid, or with sunflower oil rich in linoleic acid altered the concentrations of the metabolites of these […]
Insufficient insulin processing leads to overweight
Overweight increases the risk of an imbalance in sugar metabolism and even of diabetes. A research group at the University of Basel has now shown the opposite is true as well: deficits in the body’s insulin production contribute to overweight. Poor nutrition, too little movement and too many pounds on the scale — lifestyle influences […]
COVID-19: New energy for flagging immune cells: Immune cells do not receive sufficient suitable energy carriers in infected individuals, a study reveals
In severe Covid-19 patients, the metabolism produces insufficient amounts of certain energy-rich compounds called ketone bodies. However, these energy carriers are needed by two important cell types in the immune system in order to fight the virus effectively. Perhaps this finding explains why some people fall ill so much more severely than others. A study […]
Lipidomics provides new biomarkers for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes
The lipid metabolism plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. However, little is known about the molecular relationships. Using lipidomics, a modern analytical method, the team led by Dr. Fabian Eichelmann from DIfE and DZD identified those lipids that are statistically associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 […]
Humans aren’t the only species whose metabolisms tend to slow down with age
If you feel like your metabolism just isn’t what it used to be, no matter how many hours you spend in the gym, dolphins can relate. A Duke University-led study finds that bottlenose dolphins burn calories at a lower rate as they get older, just like we do. It’s the first time scientists have measured […]
Combining plant-based diet and healthy microbiome may protect against multiple sclerosis: Metabolism of isoflavone by gut bacteria protects mice from MS-like inflammation
A new University of Iowa study suggests that metabolism of plant-based dietary substances by specific gut bacteria, which are lacking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), may provide protection against the disease. The study led by Ashutosh Mangalam, PhD, UI associate professor of pathology, shows that a diet rich in isoflavone, a phytoestrogen or plant-based […]