Researchers have discovered a 'good' fat that combats diabetes.
A study team from the Salk Institute of Biological Studies discovered a new class of molecules, which are produced in human and mouse fat that effectively protects against diabetes. Upon administering the 'good' fat or lipid to mice with the equivalent of Type 2 diabetes reduced their increased blood sugar levels, according to the researchers.
The findings of the study revealed that people with high risk of diabetes have fewer hydroxy fatty acids (new lipids). This means that the lipids might prove helpful as a therapy for metabolic disorders.
"We can add FAHFAs to the small list of beneficial lipids. These lipids can also reduce inflammation, suggesting that we might discover therapeutic opportunities for these molecules in inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes," Alan Saghatelian, professor at the Salk Institute and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, said in a press release.
The FAHFAs were not noticed in cells and tissues as they are present in low concentrations that make it difficult to detect, according to the study.
Once they identified FAHFAs as being the lipid that was different between normal mice and these diabetes-resistant mice, they found that when the mice ate FAHFAs, blood sugar levels dropped and insulin levels rose, indicating the potential therapeutic value of FAHFAs.
In order to understand whether FAHFAs are also relevant in humans, researchers measured FAHFA levels in humans who are insulin-resistant and found that their FAHFA levels were lower in fat and blood, suggesting that changes in FAHFA levels may contribute to diabetes.
"This work suggests that changes in FAHFA levels are a new mechanism in diabetes," Saghatelian concluded.
The study was published in the journal Cell.
