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The Raelian Movement
for those who are not afraid of the future : http://www.rael.org
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Why fish oils work swimmingly against diabetes
http://www.physorg.com/news202651072.html
September 2, 2010
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of
Medicine have identified the molecular mechanism that makes omega-3
fatty acids so effective in reducing chronic inflammation and insulin
resistance.
The discovery could lead to development of a simple dietary remedy for
many of the more than 23 million Americans suffering from diabetes and
other conditions.
Writing in the advance online edition of the September 3 issue of the
journal Cell, Jerrold Olefsky, MD, and colleagues identified a key
receptor on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Obesity
and diabetes are closely correlated. The scientists say omega-3 fatty
acids activate this macrophage receptor, resulting in broad
anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity.
Macrophages are specialized white blood cells that engulf and digest
cellular debris and pathogens. Part of this immune system response
involves the macrophages secreting cytokines and other proteins that
cause inflammation, a method for destroying cells and objects
perceived to be harmful. Obese fat tissue contains lots of these
macrophages producing lots of cytokines. The result can be chronic
inflammation and rising insulin resistance in neighboring cells
over-exposed to cytokines. Insulin resistance is the physical
condition in which the natural hormone insulin becomes less effective
at regulating blood sugar levels in the body, leading to myriad and
often severe health problems, most notably type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Olefsky and colleagues looked at cellular receptors known to respond
to fatty acids. They eventually narrowed their focus to a G-protein
receptor called GPR120, one of a family of signaling molecules
involved in numerous cellular functions. The GPR120 receptor is found
only on pro-inflammatory macrophages in mature fat cells. When the
receptor is turned off, the macrophage produces inflammatory effects.
But exposed to omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the GPR120 receptor is
activated and generates a strong anti-inflammatory effect.
"It's just an incredibly potent effect," said Olefsky, a professor of
medicine and associate dean of scientific affairs for the UC San Diego
School of Medicine. "The omega-3 fatty acids switch on the receptor,
killing the inflammatory response."
The scientists conducted their research using cell cultures and mice,
some of the latter genetically modified to lack the GPR120 receptor.
All of the mice were fed a high-fat diet with or without omega-3 fatty
acid supplementation. The supplementation treatment inhibited
inflammation and enhanced insulin sensitivity in ordinary obese mice,
but had no effect in GPR120 knockout mice. A chemical agonist of
omega-3 fatty acids produced similar results.
"This is nature at work," said Olefsky. "The receptor evolved to
respond to a natural product - omega-3 fatty acids - so that the
inflammatory process can be controlled. Our work shows how fish oils
safely do this, and suggests a possible way to treating the serious
problems of inflammation in obesity and in conditions like diabetes,
cancer and cardiovascular disease through simple dietary
supplementation."
However, Olefsky said more research is required. For example, it
remains unclear how much fish oil constitutes a safe, effective dose.
High consumption of fish oil has been linked to increased risk of
bleeding and stroke in some people.
Should fish oils prove impractical as a therapeutic agent, Olefsky
said the identification of the GPR120 receptor means researchers can
work toward developing an alternative drug that mimics the actions of
DHA and EPA and provides the same anti-inflammatory effects.
Provided by University of California - San Diego
"Ethics" is simply a last-gasp attempt by deist conservatives and
orthodox dogmatics to keep humanity in ignorance and obscurantism,
through the well tried fermentation of fear, the fear of science and
new technologies.
There is nothing glorious about what our ancestors call history,
it is simply a succession of mistakes, intolerances and violations.
On the contrary, let us embrace Science and the new technologies
unfettered, for it is these which will liberate mankind from the
myth of god, and free us from our age old fears, from disease,
death and the sweat of labour.
Rael
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