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Microplastics found embedded in tissues of whales and dolphins

A study by Duke University researchers has found microplastics in the fats and lungs of two-thirds of marine mammals, suggesting that ingested plastics can travel into tissues. The presence of polymer particles and fibers in whales' fat and organs may cause harm, including hormone disruption.

SourceDuke University·JournalEnvironmental Pollution·TypeObservational study·DateAug 10, 2023

University of Minnesota-led study links long-term artificial sweetener intake to increased body fat adipose tissue volume

A University of Minnesota-led study found that long-term consumption of aspartame and saccharin is associated with increased volumes of visceral, intermuscular, and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The researchers recommend considering alternative approaches to artificial sweeteners due to potential health consequences.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·TypeObservational study·DateAug 3, 2023

Scientists tie obesity to sex- and age-specific genes

Researchers identified five genes influencing BMI in women and two in men, with faulty variants of three genes linked to higher BMI in women. Age-specific factors also emerged, with genes OBSCN and MADD associated with childhood body size and fat.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Genomics·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

Higher levels of lean muscle might protect against Alzheimer’s disease

A large study suggests that higher levels of lean muscle mass may be associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers used Mendelian randomisation to analyze the relationship between genetically proxied lean muscle mass and Alzheimer's disease risk, finding a modest but statistically robust association.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 29, 2023

Does fat content within muscle predict risk of cognitive decline?

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that a 5-year increase in muscle fat stored in the thigh muscle is associated with faster cognitive decline. The research suggests that muscle adiposity plays a unique role in cognitive decline, distinct from other types of fat or muscle characteristics.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateJun 7, 2023

New research may explain why, despite “the munchies”, frequent cannabis users are leaner than non-users

Researchers have uncovered a possible explanation for why frequent cannabis users are leaner and less prone to diabetes than non-users. The study found that adolescent exposure to low-dose THC disrupts energy balance and adipose organ homeostasis in adulthood, leading to reduced fat mass and increased lean mass.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJun 1, 2023

Discovery slows down muscular dystrophy

A team of researchers has identified TAK1 as a regulator of skeletal muscle mass, slowing down disease progression and improving muscle function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. By targeting this protein, they can suppress muscle fiber death and enhance myofiber growth, offering a promising new approach to treatment.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalJCI Insight·DateMay 24, 2023

Non-biological factors and social determinants of health important in women’s CVD risk assessment

The new American Heart Association scientific statement emphasizes the importance of including non-biological factors and social determinants in CVD risk assessment for women. These factors include economic stability, neighborhood safety, education level, and access to quality healthcare, which disproportionately affect women from dive...

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalCirculation·DateApr 10, 2023

Good physical fitness does not protect children from obesity-related low-grade inflammation

A recent study by the University of Jyväskylä found that good physical fitness in children does not reduce low-grade inflammation, which is a key factor in childhood obesity. Higher body fat percentage and waist circumference were strongly associated with higher low-grade inflammation levels.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalScandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports·DateApr 3, 2023

Cells refine palm fat into olive oil

Scientists have found that cells break down and reassemble fatty acids to create more beneficial variants, such as oleic acid. This process, called triglyceride cycling, refines poorly usable fatty acids into higher-quality forms.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature Metabolism·DateApr 3, 2023

Got milky spots?

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine reveals a unique subset of fibroblastic reticular cells in omental milky spots crucial for immune cell recruitment to prevent sepsis. These cells regulate the display of CXCL12, recruiting lymphocytes to sites of inflammation.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 22, 2023

Study shows ‘obesity paradox’ does not exist: waist-to-height ratio is a better indicator of outcomes in patients with heart failure than BMI

A new study published in the European Heart Journal shows that using waist-to-height ratio instead of BMI provides a clearer picture of patient outcomes in heart failure. The researchers found that greater adiposity is associated with worse outcomes, including high rates of hospitalization and reduced health-related quality of life.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeObservational study·DateMar 21, 2023

The fat tax: Long-term, systemic antibiotic use for the treatment of adolescent acne can promote fat accumulation

Researchers found that long-term antibiotic use during adolescence disrupts the healthy gut microbiome, leading to changes in liver metabolism that promotes central fat accumulation. The study suggests that antibiotic treatment may have lasting detrimental effects on liver metabolism and promote adiposity.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2023

Technical adequacy of artificial intelligence body composition assessed in external CT

Automated AI body composition tools achieved high technical adequacy rates (97.8-99.1%) in a large sample of external abdominal CT scans. The results support the generalizability and potential for widespread adoption of these tools, which can help build trust among radiologists and physicians.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeImaging analysis·DateFeb 22, 2023

Spanish scientists identify a new therapeutic target in macrophages for the treatment of obesity-related diseases

Macrophages adapt their metabolism according to the organ they reside in, reveals Spanish scientists. This discovery highlights a vulnerability of macrophages that contributes to chronic inflammatory diseases and could be exploited therapeutically for conditions like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

CDI researcher might have found key to why COVID-19 kills more men than women

A new study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences suggests that COVID-19 targets female fat tissue for replication, sparring the lungs and preventing pulmonary damage. This theory may explain why men are more susceptible to severe infections and higher death rates during the pandemic.

SourceHackensack Meridian Health·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2023

Body phenotypes say a lot, but not everything, about a person’s health, according to new Concordia research

Concordia researchers analyzed muscle and fat mass data from a large US sample population to find that high levels of fat mass are linked to poorer overall health. While BMI was surprisingly effective in predicting some cardiometabolic outcomes, the study suggests new body-composition phenotypes may be a better predictor.

SourceConcordia University·JournalPreventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 25, 2023

A CNIC study shows that cells possess 2 mechanisms to allow them to respond to different force ranges

The CNIC study reveals two distinct mechanisms by which cells detect and respond to forces of varying strength, one mediated by caveolae and the other by newly discovered dolines. This finding has significant implications for understanding pathological processes such as atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalNature Cell Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 2, 2023

Low-carb diet may help patients with diabetes achieve better weight loss and glucose control in short term compared to a low-fat diet

A randomized controlled trial found that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet helped patients with type 2 diabetes achieve better weight loss and glucose control over a 6-month intervention compared to a high-carb, low-fat diet. However, changes were not sustained 3 months after the intervention.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 12, 2022

The Green Mediterranean diet reduces twice as much visceral fat as the Mediterranean diet and 10% more than a healthy diet

A recent clinical trial found that the Green Mediterranean diet reduced visceral adipose tissue by 14%, outperforming both the traditional Mediterranean diet and a healthy diet. The new diet incorporates dietary polyphenols and lower red meat intake, resulting in significant weight loss benefits.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalBMC Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 28, 2022

Poor diet damages our blood vessels

Researchers found that metabolic disease affects blood vessels in different organs, leading to vascular dysfunction and increased risk of diseases. A healthy diet can partially reverse this damage, but some blood vessels may retain the disease signature, making it difficult to fully reverse.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalNature Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2022