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Diabetes News for August 27, 2000
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Dieting Support From Supplement
A common problem faced by dieters is that it is all too easy
to regain weight after the diet has ended, often resulting in
more body fat than the dieter had to begin with. A new
supplement may change all that by promoting muscle gain over
fat.
The supplement is called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and has become popular among dieters. CLA is a fatty acid that is structurally different from linoleic acid (LA) found in seed oils. CLA and LA have very distinct and at times opposite effects in research studies. LA is largely derived from seed oils, while CLA is derived from beef after LA has been converted into CLA by bacteria in a cow's intestines. CLA occurs naturally in animal and dairy products, especially in beef, cheese and ice cream which, unfortunately, contain many other unwanted fats and calories.
While it is unclear exactly how it works, scientists believe that it interferes with the ability of the body's enzyme lipoprotein lipase, which is involved in storing fat. It is also believed that CLA may enhance the enzyme lipase's ability to break down fat. Some of the benefits of this change can be seen as improved cholesterol levels in some research studies.
A recent study by Dr. Michael Pariza at the University of Wisconsin in Madison set out to determine if CLA has any merit. The study involved 71 obese people, with 35 people taking three grams of CLA per day, and the rest taking a placebo. All participants were put on a reduced-calorie diet and an exercise program.
At the end of the study, both groups had lost an average of five pounds. The difference in the two groups only became apparent after the diet and exercise program ceased. Those who had been taking the CLA added fat and muscle in equal proportions. This differs from the average addition of fat that is three times greater than the addition of muscle. Those taking the CLA also experienced less depression and fewer stomach aches than those taking the placebo.
Another study involving CLA was conducted at Purdue University in Indiana. Because CLA is believed to increase sensitivity to insulin, this study measured the insulin levels of those with Type 2 diabetes who took CLA. At the end of the eight-week study, 64% of the 22 participants showed an improvement in their insulin levels. Doctors hope that more research will reveal a new way of helping to manage the disease. CLA has Visit About.com's CLA Page or QualityCounts.com's CLA Page for more information.
Link Between Baby Fat & Diabetes?
Scientists often try to understand a disease by going to its source. Researchers in the Netherlands wanted to see if there was a connection between diabetes in children and their previous weight as babies.
The study was conducted by doctors at Sophia Children's' Hospital in Rotterdam, and is published in The Lancet (volume 356; pages 655-656; August 19, 2000). The study involved the comparison of 91 children with Type 1 diabetes and their siblings to 2,151 children without diabetes.
An examination of the children with Type 1 diabetes showed that they tended to gain more weight by the time they were one year old than their siblings or the other children did. Children with diabetes and their siblings also tended to be taller than the other children when they were between one and three years old. These children were also more likely to have the autoantibody IA-2, which mistakenly destroys the bodies own proteins in the pancreas.
Unfortunately, researchers were unable to determine whether the children gained more weight because they were predisposed to diabetes, or they were predisposed to diabetes because of their weight gain.
The researchers hypothesize that rising affluence in developed countries may lead to better nutrition for babies, which in turn may spur growth rates. In children who are genetically predisposed to diabetes, this growth rate might lead to a greater chance of developing the disease, although this connection appears weak in that rates of Type 1 diabetes overall do not appear to be rising. More research is needed to solidify the theory that babies' weight contributes to their chances of developing diabetes.
Further Developments In Pig Transplants
In one of our recent newsletters, we reported on the possibility of transplanting pig organs into humans as an answer to the shortage in human donors. However, a more recent study has raised real fears concerning the risk for developing cross-species diseases. This, at least temporarily, moves current cross-species transplants beyond the realm of possibility.
The research was conducted by doctors at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, and will be published by the journal Nature. The researchers transplanted pig pancreas tissue into mice that had diabetes and had no immune system. The mice had been bred without immune systems in order to prevent rejection of the transplanted tissue. After the transplant, diabetes was cured in the mice, but they later developed a porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infection. This infection lasted up to two months in the mice, and is the first evidence that the retrovirus is able to cross between species through transplantation.
This research is already having financial repercussions. The director of the Roslin Institute, based in Scotland, has said that the institute will decrease funding from its pig-cloning program. The American Geron Corporation had purchased Roslin Biomed in the hopes of acquiring the cloning program, but now says it plans to reduce funding in this area.
Further research is necessary to fully understand the risks of xenotransplantation, which is the transplantation of animal parts into humans and how to prevent retroviral and other infections. We are not as pessimistic about xenotransplantation as the scientists above. There have been numerous opportunities for retroviral infections like PERV to reach humans and this has not occurred. Consider how many pig farmers, butchers and slaughterhouse personnel come in contact with pigs and pig meat with open wounds, yet harmful organisms from pigs have created little health concern.
Internet Shows Promise For Improving Healthcare
In recent years, a greater emphasis has been placed on utilizing the internet to improve healthcare. A study conducted by the US Army set out to determine whether the high-tech care could have any effect on health.
The study, which is published in Military Medicine (volume 165, pages 579-584, August 2000), involved twenty-eight participants with Type 2 diabetes. The participants were divided into two groups. One group was treated with "telemedicine," in which they were given a computer system that had a blood pressure monitor, as well as video and audio connections through a telephone line to improve diabetes treatment. Every week, these participants had a video conference with a nurse, who educated them about nutrition, exercise, and their medication. The nurses provided e-mail updates to the participants' doctors. The other group was given traditional care: they were encouraged to visit their doctors regularly and attend diabetes education classes.
At the end of the three-month study, those in the telemedicine group had a drop in blood sugar levels of 16%, and a weight loss of 4%. In comparison, those receiving traditional care actually had an increase in weight. Doctors hope that this study will promote the use of telemedicine in the treatment of diabetes.
Cardiology Study Receives Funding
One of the leading causes of death in people with diabetes is heart disease. A new study will attempt to find ways to detect heart problems early, so people with diabetes will not have to fear this complication.
The study, which will be led by researchers at Yale University School of Medicine, is known as the Detection of Ischemia in Asymptomatic Diabetics (DIAD). It will involve the evaluation of Cardiolite. This is a non-invasive heart imaging test that evaluates the heart's pumping ability as well as guages blood flow to the heart. In this way, it can be used to determine whether a person has had a heart attack or is at risk for one. In many cases, obvious signs of heart problems are not present, so a device such as this could prove to be very useful, especially for those with diabetes who have fewer cardiac symptoms.
The study is being funded in part by a $2 million grant from DuPont. Besides Yale, other participating facilities will include Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut; Tulane University in New Orleans; the University of Alabama in Birmingham; the University of Chicago; the University of Rochester in New York; and University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Physicians Group Has Beef With The USDA
A new campaign sponsored by the USDA features a cartoon thermometer and a slogan designed to encourage people to cook meat at proper temperatures to kill bacteria. A physicians group has filed a complaint, saying that the USDA's campaign is misleading.
The group, called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, believes that simply cooking meat long enough does not eliminate health problems associated with eating it. They say that while heat may kill microorganisms, it does nothing to reduce the fat and cholesterol content of meat. The group argues that fat and cholesterol have been linked to the development of many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has now filed a complaint with the USDA, and hopes to educate people about health risks associated with eating meat.
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