Plant Oil May Hold Key to Reducing Obesity and Diabetes
University of Missouri-Columbia ^
March 23, 2011
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Scientists have
known for years that belly fat leads to serious medical problems, including
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke. Now, a
In his latest study, James Perfield,
assistant professor of food science in the
"This research paves the way for potential
use in humans," Perfield said. "Reducing
belly fat is a key to reducing the incidence of serious disease, and this oil
could have a future as a nutritional supplement."
To study the compound, Perfield
added sterculic oil to the feed of rats that are
genetically disposed to have a high amount of abdominal fat. He tested the rats
over the course of 13 weeks and found that rats given a diet supplemented with sterulic oil had less abdominal fat and a decreased
likelihood of developing diabetes. Perfield gave the
rats a relatively small dose of oil each day, comparable to giving three
grams to a 250-pound human.
Belly fat, clinically known as intra-abdominal
fat, is between internal organs and the torso. Intra-abdominal fat is composed
of "adipose" deposits. Unusually high adipose levels trigger health
problems that may induce insulin resistance, which causes the body to have
difficulty maintaining blood sugar levels. Initially, the body is able to
compensate by producing more
insulin, but eventually the pancreas is unable to produce enough
insulin, thus increasing excess sugar in the bloodstream and setting the stage
for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other obesity-associated health
disorders.
Perfield plans to conduct further studies of sterulic
oil in hopes of developing a natural nutritional supplement. He says future
research will focus on the effectiveness of the oil in humans, as well as any
side effects.
"The oil from this seed is very similar to
other vegetable oils," Perfield said. "It
shares many of the same chemical properties, which could allow it to be easily
substituted with other oils. While eating the seed directly may be possible,
it's easier to control the amount of oil if you extract it directly."
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Perfield presented the research at the Diabetes,
Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Dysfunction Symposium in Keystone,