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A drug candidate, previously successful at treating severe fatty liver disease, reduces atherosclerosis—a primary driver of cardiovascular death worldwide—in large mammals, a study suggests. DT-109 limited the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in both the aorta and coronary arteries of nonhuman primates. This glycine-based tripeptide also stopped critical processes that lead to vascular calcification, a significant catalyst of arterial stiffening and plaque instability. Said Eugene Chen, M.D., Ph.D., "DT-109 has demonstrated a remarkable ability to counteract the progression of atherosclerosis, an achievement that holds immense therapeutic potential." Chen's team developed DT-109 in 2019 after it was discovered that impaired glycine metabolism...

A new discovery about how the liver flushes cholesterol from the body could lead to more effective treatments for cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death worldwide. Researchers have found that the production of bile, which is vital for flushing excess cholesterol from the body, is affected by the rate blood flows into the liver via the "portal" vein from the intestine. Previous research has shown that blood flow in the portal vein increases and decreases throughout the day in response to movement, rest, and intake of foods. The Leeds team has now identified that bile production increases when blood flow...

A research team has shown the benefits of camu-camu on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This exotic fruit reduces liver fat levels. Over 12 weeks, thirty participants took either camu-camu extract or a placebo at different times in this randomized clinical trial. Participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine fat levels in the liver. Scientists observed a 7.43% reduction in liver lipids when study participants took camu-camu extract. With the placebo, they noted an 8.42% increase in liver fat. "That's a significant 15.85% difference," says André Marette. This effect stems from the polyphenols contained in camu-camu and their relationship with...

Researchers have identified a mechanistic link between zinc levels in humans and the risk of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. Converging lines of evidence have shown that zinc plays a crucial role in insulin production and glucose metabolism. "We know that increasing zinc intake improves blood glucose control in people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, and people with a mutation in a key zinc transporter protein have reduced risk of diabetes." says Shek Man Chim. Chim and colleagues identified a mutation called SLC39A5, associated with increased circulating zinc levels. The team explored its function by genetically engineering...

Resistant starch is a non-digestible fiber that ferments in the large intestine, and consumption of it has previously been shown to have a positive effect on metabolism in animal studies. Now, a four-month randomized controlled trial in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) indicates daily intake of resistant starch can alter gut bacteria composition and lower liver triglycerides and liver enzymes associated with liver injury and inflammation. NAFLD, caused by a buildup of fat in the liver, affects about 30% of the population worldwide. It can lead to severe liver diseases and contribute to other conditions, such as type...

This study is the first to evaluate the separate mechanisms of caffeine and non-caffeine components in mitigating the severity of NAFLD, a common issue linked to Type 2 Diabetes. According to a recent study published in the journal Nutrients by the University of Coimbra, caffeine, polyphenols, and other natural compounds in coffee could play a role in decreasing the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). NAFLD encompasses a range of liver conditions caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver. This can result in liver fibrosis, which can advance to...

When fat accumulates in the liver, the immune system may assault the organ. Research identifies the molecule that trips these defenses, a discovery that helps to explain the dynamics underlying liver damage that can accompany type 2 diabetes and obesity. Researchers mimicked these human metabolic diseases by genetically altering mice or feeding them a high-fat, high-sugar diet. They then examined changes within the arm of the rodent's immune system that mounts defenses tailored to specific threats. When misdirected back on the body, this immune response, which involves B and T cells, damages the organs and tissues it is meant to...

A research group shows that people with fatty liver disease are expected to live almost three years shorter than the general population. People who have been diagnosed with so-called fatty liver, run an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and loss in life expectancy, compared to the general population. These patients have approximately a 2.8 years shorter expected survival, based on collected data from a large number of Swedish patients. However, the risk of death after a heart attack or stroke is still comparable to people without fatty liver. The results of the study are important because they can be...

Now, for the first time, researchers are using diabetes and "cure" in the same sentence. Doctor Donald Jump at Oregon State University eliminated diet-induced diabetes -- or type two diabetes -- in lab mice. "We saw that certain enzymes were being repressed by the high-fat diet," Donald Jump, Ph.D., department of nutrition and exercise sciences, said. The enzyme he's talking about is called fatty acid elongase-five. The more fat we eat, the less of the enzyme we produce. So, when researchers boosted the production of the enzyme in mice livers, they were cured of their diabetes in five days. "The...