Race May Be Risk Factor For Insulin Resistance
Black women - even if their weight is normal- may be at increased risk for insulin resistance, a condition associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart vessel disease, according to new research by Wake Forest University School of Medicine."It is well known that obesity is a contributor to insulin resistance," said senior researcher Jorge Calles-Escandon, M.D. "Our research suggests that race may also be an important factor. [click link for full article]

Unitika Confirms That L-arabinose Helps Inhibit Obesity And Diabetes
Unitika announced on May 9 the results of its recent research on L-arabinose, a monosaccharide extracted from sugar beet. The research has found that L-arabinose demonstrates a potential to inhibit obesity and type 2 diabetes. Specifically, in a mice experiment, the company confirmed that a 19-week administration of L-arabinose prevents weight gain, reduces the rise of the fasting blood sugar level and the insulin resistance index. [click link for full article]

Treating Obesity May Improve The Efficacy Of Therapy For Hepatitis C
According to a new study, obese patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and treated with combination drug therapy may have better outcomes if the underlying abnormalities caused by excessive fat tissue are corrected. Weight loss, medications to decrease insulin resistance and extending duration or dosage of therapy are strategies that may improve the efficacy of therapy. [click link for full article]

Diet, Obesity, And Asthma Linked
Australian researchers have identified a new protein in human airway epithelial cells that regulates allergic airway inflammation. This protein - adipocyte/macrophage fatty acid-binding protein aP2 - is known to regulate the uptake by fat cells of fatty acids and has been previously linked to insulin resistance in diabetes and the development of atherosclerosis. [click link for full article]

Ghrelin: A Player In Diabetes But Not Obesity?
Ghrelin, a hormone long considered a key player in obesity, may instead take a major role in maintaining the balance between insulin and glucose and the development of diabetes, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers in a report in the current issue of the journal Cell Metabolism."Everybody has been pushing the connection between obesity and ghrelin," said Dr. Roy G. [click link for full article]