Shanghai University : Resistant starch is effective against liver diseases

Chinese and European scientists have discovered that eating resistant starch reduces the level of fats in the blood of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Cell Metabolism notes that scientists have successfully used resistant starch to improve the microbiomes of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and to suppress some of its symptoms.

Professor Li Huateng, from Shanghai University, says: “Our experience has shown that resistant starch is an effective, safe and cheap treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, adding this type of starch to the diet is much easier than losing weight or undergoing surgery to remove tissue.” fatty.”

It should be noted that pancreatic enzymes cannot break down resistant starch, which makes it a nutrient for intestinal bacteria. This type of starch is found in some grains and vegetables. Researchers consider resistant starch as a probiotic and a potential treatment to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The researchers conducted an experiment in which 200 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease participated. They were divided into two groups. The members of the first group were asked to eat a specific amount of resistant starch daily for four months, while the members of the second group were to eat regular starch dissolved in water. After the experiment ended, the researchers studied the condition of the livers of the individuals in both groups and analyzed samples of their blood and gut microbiome.

The results showed that resistant starch reduced the level of triglycerides in the patients' blood by 5.9 percent, which led to a 24 percent decrease in their level compared to members of the second group. The rate of development of inflammation in the volunteers' livers also decreased, and the liver returned to producing enzymes and the FGF21 hormone.

According to researchers, the beneficial effect of resistant starch is mainly due to the fact that carbohydrates reduce the number of Bacteroides stercoris microbes in the intestine. It is believed that these bacteria cause disruption of the fat cycle in the human body and contribute to their accumulation in the bloodstream and liver.

Scientists have achieved similar results in experiments on mice. The successful completion of these trials suggests that resistant starch can be used as a means of preventing and treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, in addition to current nutritional and pharmacological approaches, the researchers wrote.

Health discipline : Why should you not make your bed as soon as you wake up?

Many people make their beds as soon as they wake up. This is a common thing, and it may make them feel organized and disciplined, but it may be harmful to health.

Although this may seem illogical, several studies have indicated that making the bed as soon as you wake up may put some people at risk of developing a serious condition.

According to American research, beds made immediately after getting up can be a breeding ground for dust mites, which can lead to asthma and allergy attacks.

This is because these little creatures tend to live in warm, humid climates, just like your bed after waking up.

To avoid injury, Martin Seeley, sleep expert at MattressNextDay, suggested people not make their bed within the first 30 minutes of waking up.

He said: "Leaving your bed unmade for a period of time exposes it to natural sunlight. Natural sunlight can play a role in preventing the build-up of dust mites and has antiseptic properties that can kill some bacteria and mites, reducing potential health risks."

Those who are allergic to dust mites may notice symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

If you have asthma and are allergic to dust mites, it can trigger an asthma attack, according to the UK lung and asthma charity.

 

Diabetes Care : Depression is the direct cause of type 2 diabetes!

Researchers have discovered that depression can play a direct role in developing type 2 diabetes even if you are not overweight.

New research, funded by the charity Diabetes UK, has found seven genetic variants that contribute to type 2 diabetes and depression.

Leading experts and charities described the findings as "hugely important" and urged health officials to consider depression as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, alongside obesity, inactivity and a family history of the condition.

The researchers hypothesized that the common genes discovered play a role in insulin secretion or inflammation in the brain, pancreas, or adipose tissue, with the possibility that changes in these biological processes explain how depression increases type 2 diabetes.

The study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, used data from hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and Finland, including 19,344 people with type 2 diabetes, more than 5,000 people who had been diagnosed with depression and 153,079 people who later reported being depressed.

“Our findings highlight the importance of preventing type 2 diabetes at the onset of depressive symptoms, and the need to maintain a healthy weight in the context of its impact on depression and type 2 diabetes comorbidity,” the researchers concluded.

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, Director of Research at Diabetes UK, said: “This very important study gives us new insights into the links between genetics, type 2 diabetes and depression, suggesting that depression could contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. "Type 2 diabetes is complex, with multiple risk factors, and previous research has shown that the condition is more common in people with depression. This study gives us greater insight into why, and suggests that depression should now be considered a risk factor associated with type 2 diabetes." ".

Inga Prokopenko, Professor of e-One Health and Chair of the Department of Multiple Statistics at the University of Surrey, who led the study, said: “Our finding highlights depression as a contributing cause of type 2 diabetes and could help improve prevention efforts. The findings are important for both individuals who People living with these conditions and their healthcare providers, who should consider additional screenings to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in people who are depressed."