Fluctuations in the composition and diversity of the gut microbial community can affect organismal health in various ways. Low microbial diversity in the gut can increase a person’s susceptibility to potential pathogens, such as Salmonella spp. And changes in the balance between the two bacterial taxa most prominent in the gut, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, areContinueContinue reading “A signal that shifts gut microbial composition”
Tag Archives: obesity
A mitochondrial gene product regulates metabolism
Overconsumption of fat can lead to obesity and to insulin resistance, a condition that can also develop with age and often precedes diabetes. Investigators at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles) and University of California Los Angeles recently reported that the effects of a high-fat diet could be ameliorated by treatment with a newlyContinueContinue reading “A mitochondrial gene product regulates metabolism”
Easier estimation of an individual’s ‘body time’
For many organisms, including humans, the activity of certain biological processes and the expression of certain genes and proteins fluctuate predictably over a period of roughly 24 hours. These oscillations are maintained by an internal time-keeping mechanism called the circadian clock. ‘Body time’ refers to the setting of each individual’s circadian clock, which can varyContinueContinue reading “Easier estimation of an individual’s ‘body time’”
Ad lib feeding confounds toxicology studies
In many experimental protocols, rodents are given unlimited access to food. This allows the animals to overeat, resulting in substantial changes in their metabolism and physiology. Past studies have reported elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol; diet-induced obesity; kidney and heart dysfunction; and greater risks of pituitary, pancreatic, adrenal and thyroid tumors in association withContinueContinue reading “Ad lib feeding confounds toxicology studies”
Modeling type 2 diabetes on the fly
The incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly in the US, making it a major public health concern and the focus of much biomedical research. Insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, is linked to obesity and poor diet. Until now, researchers have relied primarily on rodent models for investigations of the mechanismsContinueContinue reading “Modeling type 2 diabetes on the fly”
Gut bacteria may modify obesity risk
Obesity is a pervasive and potentially lethal public health concern. The concept of energy balance is central to our understanding of obesity: excessive calorie intake combined with minimal physical activity creates a surplus of energy that is stored in the body as fat. This caloric algebra may be accurate, but it is an incomplete descriptionContinueContinue reading “Gut bacteria may modify obesity risk”
Fructokinase isoforms face off in metabolic syndrome
Dietary intake of fructose is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans, and fructose intake can induce metabolic syndrome in rats and in humans. These effects seem to be independent of excessive energy consumption and increased body weight. To investigate the mechanism linking fructose intake with metabolic syndrome, a researchContinueContinue reading “Fructokinase isoforms face off in metabolic syndrome”
Exercise alone relieves arthritis symptoms
The links between diet, obesity, exercise and arthritis have been the focus of much research attention, partly because arthritis is estimated to affect as many as 20% of adults in the US. One form of arthritis, called osteoarthritis, is characterized by inflammation, joint degeneration and development of osteophytes (bony outgrowths around joints), resulting in pain.ContinueContinue reading “Exercise alone relieves arthritis symptoms”
Where fat cells come from
The mammalian body uses two types of fat cells, brown and white adipocytes, to store energy. The number of adipocytes in the body changes with age and body mass and also varies with gender. In addition, there are functional variations among adipocytes from different body locations (or depots). Changes in adiposity, especially the accumulation ofContinueContinue reading “Where fat cells come from”
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