A recent study has discovered that elevated blood fat levels in persons with type 2 diabetes and obesity are more hazardous than previously thought. According to the research, they can damage cells, exacerbate symptoms, and worsen the sickness. Increased blood fat levels have long been known to cause tissue and organ damage, contributing to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes.
Elevated fat levels in the blood cause stress in muscle cells in people with metabolic disorders, a reaction to changes outside the cell that affect their structure and function. Researchers at the University of Leeds discovered that stressed-out cells emit a signal that can be transmitted to neighboring cells.
The signals, known as ceramides, may have a short-term protective advantage because they are part of a mechanism designed to alleviate stress in the cell. However, in metabolic disorders, which are long-term conditions, the signals might damage the cells, exacerbating symptoms and worsening the illness.
Increased blood fat levels have long been known to cause tissue and organ damage, contributing to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes. Obesity, which has nearly tripled worldwide since 1975, can induce the illness. Obesity affected more than 650 million persons aged 18 and above in 2016.
Although this research is at an early stage,” said research supervisor, our discovery may form the basis of new therapies or therapeutic approaches to prevent the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as diabetes in people with elevated blood fats in obesity.
Professor Lee Roberts
“Although this research is at an early stage,” said research supervisor Lee Roberts, Professor of Molecular Physiology and Metabolism at the University of Leeds’ School of Medicine, “our discovery may form the basis of new therapies or therapeutic approaches to prevent the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as diabetes in people with elevated blood fats in obesity.”
The researchers mimicked the blood fat levels seen in people with metabolic illness in the lab by exposing skeletal muscle cells to a fatty acid called palmitate. The ceramide signal began to be transmitted by the cells.
When these cells were mingled with others that had not previously been exposed to lipids, the researchers discovered that they communicated with one another, conveying the signal in packages known as extracellular vesicles.
The experiment was replicated in human volunteers with metabolic disorders, and the findings were equivalent. The findings offer a fundamentally new perspective on how cells respond to stress, with significant implications for our knowledge of certain metabolic illnesses such as obesity.
“This discovery offers us with a different perspective on how stress arises in the cells of patients with obesity, as well as new routes to examine when developing new treatments for metabolic illnesses,” stated Professor Roberts.
“With obesity becoming a growing epidemic, the burden of related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes necessitates the development of innovative treatments. We believe that the findings of our research here will open up a new path of investigation to assist address this rising concern.”
A small quantity of fat is required in your diet for good functioning. Oils and fats provide calories and vital fats while also assisting your body in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K. The type of fat consumed is equally as significant as the total amount of fat consumed for health. That is why it is critical to select healthier unsaturated fats. Consuming too many and the wrong types of fats, such as saturated and trans fats, may boost dangerous LDL cholesterol while decreasing healthy HDL cholesterol. This imbalance can increase your risk of high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), heart attack and stroke.
Saturated fat has been linked to an increase in bad (LDL) cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. According to emerging studies, saturated fats may influence your health differently depending on the source of the saturated fat. To help lower the amount of saturated fat you eat, Canada’s Food Guide recommends shifting to more plant-based foods.
Concentrate on a healthy balanced diet of vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and protein from a range of sources, including legumes, nuts, lower-fat dairy and substitutes, lean meats, and fish. Limit your consumption of highly processed meals. Consider the big picture rather than just the fat. Reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet by minimizing highly processed meals and opting for full, natural foods, particularly more plant-based foods.
