Re: Weight gain/liver enzyme defect

[Guest guest]

Might make sense except for the "eating more" part. I eat far less than my friends and family and still gain weight more easily. pennya Carnes <pj7@...> wrote: I wonder how this might relate to the reality that 40% of cfs patients have abnormal rapid weight gain at onset of cfs? http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2007/08/03/hscout606747.html Weight Gain May Be Rooted in Liver Enzyme Defect08.03.07, 12:00 AM ET FRIDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) --A genetic defect in the liver explains why some people become obese while others remain thin, a new

study suggests. The defect may prevent some people's liver enzymes from burning fat effectively and may actually cause people to eat more in an effort to create enough energy for their bodies, according to researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia. The finding could lead to a genetic test that would identify people at risk of becoming overweight. "Results of this study help explain the interaction between genes and diet that underlies diet-induced obesity," senior author Mark Friedman said in a prepared statement. "They also point to a way to identify individuals at risk for dietary obesity, perhaps even during childhood before the development of unhealthy eating habits," he said. Cells burn fat to provide energy for the body. This process, known as fat oxidation, takes place inside mitochondria, the cells' power plants for generating energy. If the ability to oxidize fat is impaired, the body's capacity to make

energy is reduced. This leads to increased hunger and overeating, as the body tries to increase the amount of energy available to meet its needs. Paradoxically, this means people and animals with the genetic inclination to become obese will actually consume more food despite their weight gain. The effect is not noticeable when people and animals are on a low-fat diet -- it is the presence of excess fat in the diet that triggers the problems with oxidation and fat storage, the researchers said. Friedman's team compared weight gain in rats that were genetically inclined toward obesity with rats that were not. When both groups were fed low-fat diets, the rats all weighed the same, although the obesity-prone rats struggled to burn the same amount of fat. But, when the researchers switched the rats to a high-fat diet, the rats that were genetically inclined toward obesity ate more and gained 36 percent more weight than the slender rats. The

reduction in fat burning capacity is tied to a lack of two liver enzymes -- CD36 and acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase, the researchers said. CD36 is responsible for transferring fat into liver cells while the second enzyme begins the oxidation process. A third enzyme, CPT1A, which is responsible for transporting fat into mitochondria, is also less available in obesity-prone rats. The increasing numbers of obese and overweight people are often thought to be a result of a diet high in calories and carbohydrates. The new study results, available in the August issue of Metabolism, suggest a genetic impact on oxidation at the cellular level as a culprit in weight gain. "The present findings point to fat oxidation in the liver as a target for the development of drugs that suppress appetite and promote weight loss in obese individuals," Friedman said.

[Guest guest]

It's my liver's fault.

--- a Carnes <pj7@...> wrote:

> I wonder how this might relate to the reality that

> 40% of cfs patients have

> abnormal rapid weight gain at onset of cfs?

>

>

http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/health/feeds/hscout/2007/08/03/hscout606747

> .html

> Weight Gain May Be Rooted in Liver Enzyme Defect

> 08.03.07, 12:00 AM ET

>

> FRIDAY, Aug. 3 (HealthDay News) --A genetic defect

> in the liver explains why

> some people become obese while others remain thin, a

> new study suggests.

>

> The defect may prevent some people's liver enzymes

> from burning fat

> effectively and may actually cause people to eat

> more in an effort to create

> enough energy for their bodies, according to

> researchers at the Monell

> Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia. The finding

> could lead to a genetic

> test that would identify people at risk of becoming

> overweight.

>

> " Results of this study help explain the interaction

> between genes and diet

> that underlies diet-induced obesity, " senior author

> Mark Friedman said in a

> prepared statement. " They also point to a way to

> identify individuals at

> risk for dietary obesity, perhaps even during

> childhood before the

> development of unhealthy eating habits, " he said.

>

> Cells burn fat to provide energy for the body. This

> process, known as fat

> oxidation, takes place inside mitochondria, the

> cells' power plants for

> generating energy. If the ability to oxidize fat is

> impaired, the body's

> capacity to make energy is reduced. This leads to

> increased hunger and

> overeating, as the body tries to increase the amount

> of energy available to

> meet its needs.

>

> Paradoxically, this means people and animals with

> the genetic inclination to

> become obese will actually consume more food despite

> their weight gain. The

> effect is not noticeable when people and animals are

> on a low-fat diet -- it

> is the presence of excess fat in the diet that

> triggers the problems with

> oxidation and fat storage, the researchers said.

>

> Friedman's team compared weight gain in rats that

> were genetically inclined

> toward obesity with rats that were not. When both

> groups were fed low-fat

> diets, the rats all weighed the same, although the

> obesity-prone rats

> struggled to burn the same amount of fat. But, when

> the researchers switched

> the rats to a high-fat diet, the rats that were

> genetically inclined toward

> obesity ate more and gained 36 percent more weight

> than the slender rats.

>

> The reduction in fat burning capacity is tied to a

> lack of two liver enzymes

> -- CD36 and acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase, the

> researchers said. CD36 is

> responsible for transferring fat into liver cells

> while the second enzyme

> begins the oxidation process. A third enzyme, CPT1A,

> which is responsible

> for transporting fat into mitochondria, is also less

> available in

> obesity-prone rats.

>

> The increasing numbers of obese and overweight

> people are often thought to

> be a result of a diet high in calories and

> carbohydrates. The new study

> results, available in the August issue of

> Metabolism, suggest a genetic

> impact on oxidation at the cellular level as a

> culprit in weight gain.

>

> " The present findings point to fat oxidation in the

> liver as a target for

> the development of drugs that suppress appetite and

> promote weight loss in

> obese individuals, " Friedman said.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

If that's the case, then the population at large is in trouble...

I've observed that there 'seems' to be more overweight people in the

colder climates than the warmer one- a- are there alot of over

weight people (residents- not visitors from the East) in Nevada?

I've 'heard ' (meaning have absolutely no proof) that 75% of the

people in Alaska are over weight.. wonder if that's true...

Barb

>

> > I wonder how this might relate to the reality that

> > 40% of cfs patients have

> > abnormal rapid weight gain at onset of cfs?

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Barb,

I can't answer that from Nevada. We get very cold winters here. Also,

the majority of those living in Las Vegas are from somewhere else. I

lived in South Carolina 30 years. Obesity was increasing there. I

think the state of Mississippi now has the highest obesity rate in

the US and it is certainly a warm climate. My personal take on

obesity is that it is related to inflammation caused by infections -

also possibly related to pasteurization processes at higher

temperatures currently in use. Then there is the use of corn syrup

instead of cane sugar since the early 1980s in all soft drinks and

canned fruit.

a

>

> If that's the case, then the population at large is in trouble...

>

> I've observed that there 'seems' to be more overweight people in

the

> colder climates than the warmer one- a- are there alot of over

> weight people (residents- not visitors from the East) in Nevada?

>

> I've 'heard ' (meaning have absolutely no proof) that 75% of the

> people in Alaska are over weight.. wonder if that's true...

>

> Barb

>

>

>

> >

> > > I wonder how this might relate to the reality that

> > > 40% of cfs patients have

> > > abnormal rapid weight gain at onset of cfs?

> > >

> > >

>

[Guest guest]

I doubt that's true. I lived in Alaska for 9 years and

the population was mixed like any other place I've

lived with overweight being in the minority. I see far

more overweight people, especially teenagers in CA.

--- Barb Peck <egroups1bp@...> wrote:

> If that's the case, then the population at large is

> in trouble...

>

> I've observed that there 'seems' to be more

> overweight people in the

> colder climates than the warmer one- a- are

> there alot of over

> weight people (residents- not visitors from the

> East) in Nevada?

>

> I've 'heard ' (meaning have absolutely no proof)

> that 75% of the

> people in Alaska are over weight.. wonder if that's

> true...

>

> Barb

>

>

>

> >

> > > I wonder how this might relate to the reality

> that

> > > 40% of cfs patients have

> > > abnormal rapid weight gain at onset of cfs?

> > >

> > >

>

>

>