Scientists from Western University have discovered that a natural compound found in sweet oranges and tangerines could help fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The compound, called nobiletin, appears to reduce weight gain, improve metabolism, and even reverse harmful effects of obesity in mice.
In the study, researchers fed mice a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, similar to an unhealthy human diet. Some of these mice were also given nobiletin.
The results were striking—mice that received nobiletin stayed leaner and had lower levels of insulin resistance and blood fats compared to those that did not. Insulin resistance is a condition that can lead to diabetes, while high blood fats are linked to heart disease.
Even more impressively, when researchers gave nobiletin to mice that were already obese and showing signs of poor health, their condition improved.
The treatment not only reduced obesity-related symptoms but also helped clear plaque buildup in their arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. This suggests that nobiletin could help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
The scientists believe nobiletin works by influencing how the body processes fat. They originally thought it acted on a key regulator of fat metabolism called AMP Kinase. This regulator controls how the body burns fat for energy and prevents excess fat storage.
However, further tests showed that nobiletin works through a different pathway, meaning it does not interfere with drugs that target AMP Kinase. This is an important finding because it suggests that nobiletin could be safely used alongside existing medications.
While the exact way nobiletin works is still a mystery, the results are promising. The next step is to test whether the same benefits occur in humans. If successful, nobiletin could become a natural and effective treatment for managing obesity and preventing related diseases.
This research was led by Murray Huff and published in the Journal of Lipid Research. Scientists hope that further studies will confirm the benefits of this citrus compound and lead to new ways to improve metabolic health.
If you care about weight, please read studies about diet that can treat fatty liver disease, obesity, and hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people.
For more information about weight, please see recent studies about how to curb your cravings for ready-to-eat foods, and results showing what you can eat to speed your metabolism up.
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