Claims to have discovered an effective way to lose weight: special fats will help

by times news cr

2024-07-06 14:55:50

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (US) found that by inhibiting the protein KLF-15, which has previously been shown to play an important role in cell metabolism and is much more abundant in calorie-burning beige fat, the cells themselves changed their function. Without this protein, the fat cells became beige instead of white.

“A lot of people thought it was impossible,” says Brian Feldman, MD, professor of pediatric endocrinology and senior author of the study. “We’ve shown not only that this method is effective in turning these white fat cells into beige cells, but that it’s not as difficult as we thought.”

Mammals have three types of fat: brown, white, and beige.

Brown fat produces energy and heat – thus performing a production function – while white fat stores energy – thus performing a storage function. Because white fat is the body’s reserve energy fund (used only when the body does not get enough energy from food), it is difficult to break down and accumulates in layers on the abdomen and hips.

Beige fat looks and functions like a cross between white and brown fat, and studies also show that white fat can turn into beige fat.

Beige fat cells burn energy as efficiently as brown adipose tissue, but are found scattered throughout white adipose tissue. In mice, knocking down the KLF-15 protein increased the size of beige fat cells, which led to a reduction in white fat cells and significantly less fat deposits.

“Most of our white fat cells are not rare, and we’re happy to part with some of them,” says Feldman. “We’re definitely not at the finish line, but we’re close enough that you can clearly see how these discoveries could have a big impact on obesity treatment.”

The new study is published žurnale „Journal of Clinical Investigation“.

2024-07-06 14:55:50

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