According to statistics, about 43% of the world's population is overweight, of which 16% are obese. Scientists from China decided to deal with the problem in a new way and began to look for a way to influence the metabolism of fats in the body in order to prevent fat deposition at the earliest stage. The results of their work are reported by New Atlas.
"We have studied fat metabolism for many years, but it has been difficult to find an effective way to block fat absorption," said co-author Wentao Shao of Tongji University.
Experiments have shown that the enzyme SOAT2 should be used to block fat absorption — its inhibition triggers the degradation of the protein CD36, which is responsible for fat transport. An important advantage of the new approach is its targeted effect on the intestines, which allows fat accumulation in the liver to be avoided.
"Our approach could be a breakthrough in the treatment of obesity," the scientists said. They are currently continuing preclinical studies to ensure the approach is safe for the human body.
Interestingly, other scientists had previously found the gut to be the key to preventing fatty liver disease. They showed that intestinal absorption was the main factor preventing fat accumulation in the liver.
