NEATORAMA HOME | RSS | LITE/MOBILE VERSION | BEST OF NEATORAMA | NEATORAMA SPOTLIGHT New! |




"Fat Enzyme" Explains Why Some People Never Get Fat

Posted by Alex in Medicine on March 15, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Ever wonder why some people can eat anything they want and never gain weight? UCSF (my alma mater!) researcher Robert Farese and colleagues have found that it may just be the absence of a "fat enzyme":

The enzyme, MGAT2, determines whether dietary fat is used to generate energy or stored under the skin around the waist. The discovery of its role could be the key to preventing obesity, diabetes and heart disease

Scientists found that mice missing the gene for MGAT2 were able to feast on a high fat diet without becoming flabby or overweight.

Mice lacking MGAT2 were also protected against glucose intolerance – a precursor to diabetes – high cholesterol and a build up of fat in liver cells.

Link

 
Email This Post 
Tweet This Post 
Share This Post on Facebook 
Buzz This up!



Lijit Search


Got a neat story? Share it with the world by writing your very own Neatorama blog post with the Upcoming Queue. Who knows, you might just win something ...

Here's how to get started:
FAQ | Tips