Atlanta Drug Treatment: Newly Identified Linchpin of Fat Metabolism May Be Key to Diabetes Treatment
People are biologically predisposed to crave fat in their diets and to store fat when times are good to burn later when times of famine strike. But recently, as people have indulged more and more in fat-laden diets packed with processed sugars, they have begun to add fat to their waistlines at an astonishing rate. Today, we are experiencing an epidemic of Type II diabetes and the host of health-related problems this disease presents.
Research scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California have recently identified what they believe will turn out to be the linchpin of fat metabolism. This protein is called fibroblast growth factor 1 or FGG1 for short and it may soon open myriad new ways to treat Type II diabetes in humans.
The research group recently published a paper in Nature in which they reported that FGF1 was triggered in mice that were fed diets high in fat. The mice which lacked the protein quickly developed diabetes. They consequently hypothesized that FGF1 is extremely important for the body to maintain its sensitivity o insulin which regulates glucose levels in the blood. People with Type II diabetes often have extremely high levels of insulin in their bodies but it does not function well.
Our fat stores function like batteries to give us energy during lean times when food is scarce. FGF1 moderates the way in which fat works in the body and thus, controls the body’s energy levels.
Today, in the United Sates more than 1/3 of all adults and about 17% of all children are considered to be obese according to the parameters set out by the CDD, the Centers for Diseease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. As this number has steadily increased over the years, so has the incidence of Type II diabetes, a metabolic disease which is strongly correlated with obesity. There are now about 26 million Americans with Type II diabetes today and the health care spending on this disease tops about $ 200 billion annually.
Though physicians now that calorie restriction and weight loss coupled with an exercise program can keep symptoms and complications at bay, prevention is really the key to dealing with this disease. This is where the Salk Institute discovery comes in to play.
Previously, this protein was thought to contribute very little to a body’s well-being. This opinion was based on studies where mice were bred without the protein and no substantial side-effects were noted. But the scientists soon noticed that when these mice were fed a diet high in fat, they developed aggressive forms of diabetes very quickly and their visceral fat levels or abdominal fat increased dramatically. This information was crucial because visceral fat in humans is known to be linked to put people at a greater risk for developing Type II diabetes.
The scientists also discovered that FGF1 can be regulated with an antidiabetic drug called Actos which many endocrinologists use to help their patient’s body become more sensitive to the insulin they already produce on their own. But this drug, as well as other drugs that are similar, have only use because of their side effects.
The team hopes to develop a new way for the body to utilize FGF1 as a way to control Type II diabetes.
This article has been provided by Sari Crossman who runs an article content website called Eiji Media. Visit her there at http://eijimedia.com. She lives in Canada. She specializes in the health, personal finance and technology niches.
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