Fatty Liver Disease May Be Treated With A Novel Mechanism

The development of metabolic illnesses, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is one of the dangers associated with aging and obesity. It is extremely difficult to understand the complexities of this process and how to halt it, but scientists think they may have discovered the solutions in a protein known as ZAK-alpha.

Some people find that aging weight or becoming older is stressful, but the effects of these changes extend beyond our emotions; aging and obesity cause stress" to our cells as well. This manifests as an excess of substances known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). Even though they are created during regular cellular metabolism, an overabundance of them can harm our cells.

One effect of this stress is the transformation of "brown" fat into "white" fat. Brown fat is full of mitochondria and is in charge of controlling body temperature, blood sugar, and insulin levels. Overindulgence in the latter increases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which the liver stores an excessive amount of fat.

About 25% of people worldwide are estimated to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although it frequently shows no symptoms, if NAFLD worsens, it can cause cirrhosis or severe liver damage. Scientists have therefore been attempting to determine the elements contributing to this evolution, and a group under the direction of University of Copenhagen Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen seems to have discovered one of the major participants.

"When cells are under stress, the ZAK-alpha protein 'signals' the rest of the metabolic system about it. This sets off a series of events that result in fatty liver, among other things," Bekker-Jensen said in a statement.

Using zebrafish, mouse, and cellular models in which the ZAK-alpha protein was eliminated and the model was subsequently exposed to ROS, the team verified this; the latter two models displayed what the researchers believe to be encouraging outcomes.

"Mice are an excellent representation of the human metabolic system... Bekker-Jensen stated that mice that gain weight experience many of the same metabolic disorders that affect people. Mice without the ZAK-alpha protein had far lower levels of health than those that had it. They had stronger muscles, were more active, and—most importantly—did not acquire any metabolic disorders as they grew older."

The results, according to the researchers, show that ZAK-alpha may be a helpful treatment option for NAFLD. Bekker-Jensen stated, "ZAK-alpha is a well-established drug target that can be inhibited with small molecules." "Therefore, we expect that many companies actively working on developing and testing drugs against metabolic diseases, including fatty liver, will be interested in this new knowledge."

The next stage will be clinical trials to get such medicine to market. The Bekker-Jensen is optimistic, but only time will tell if that is successful. "I see tremendous potential for fatty liver, which remains one of the most important unresolved medical issues today, even though there is already effective and reasonably priced medication for diabetes."

Have you ever wondered who those people were that had a white plastic disc on their arm? They are biosensors, after all, and frequently they track a person's blood sugar levels all the time. Some diabetics take them, but some non-diabetics also use them for reasons related to their metabolism.

What are insulin and blood glucose?

Food is broken down into its constituent parts when it is consumed, one of which is glucose, which enters the bloodstream and causes the pancreas to secrete insulin. Insulin is an essential hormone that signals the liver to store glucose for later use and aids in the uptake of blood sugar by cells for energy production.

The bloodstream's glucose levels drop as soon as the glucose enters our cells. This in turn indicates that less insulin is needed. The liver releases the stored glucose when these levels fall, so even if you haven't had a satisfying snack It permits blood sugar to remain comparatively steady for a period.

However, in individuals with diabetes, this system is a little off-kilter because the body either stops producing insulin or develops resistance to its effects. People with diabetes frequently have to keep an eye on their blood sugar levels to make sure they stay stable or to decide if they need to take any action.

What does it mean to monitor blood glucose continuously?

A finger-prick test used to be the sole method available to people with diabetes to check their blood sugar levels. Thanks to advancements in technology, continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, is now a thing.

With the use of a continuous glucose meter (CGM), users can determine whether their blood glucose levels are appropriate. This sensor, which measures the amount of glucose in the fluid beneath the skin, is typically affixed to a bodily part (such as the stomach or arm) and left there for several days. We refer to this fluid as interstitial fluid.

The receiver that the sensor is connected to is frequently connected to a phone. The receiver receives glucose level information from the CGM every few minutes. Certain varieties of CGM can be connected to an insulin pump if you have diabetes, which will help you maintain a stable blood glucose level.

These monitors can assist in determining whether a person has high blood sugar, diabetes, the need for additional insulin, or low blood sugar and the need for a sugary snack.

How are users "biohacking" these systems?

What your body can digest and absorb without producing abnormal surges in insulin, blood sugar, inflammation, or blood fat determines your metabolic health. These significant increases may be a factor in long-term health consequences related to blood pressure, weight, body fat, and waist circumference.

Therefore, CGM can be utilized to identify these aberrant glucose blood sugar rises even in non-diabetic individuals. The copious amounts of data that these monitors provide are being used by people to better understand how different meal types affect the various glycemic loads, which in turn helps to enhance their physical and nutritional habits. These monitors also have the added benefit of displaying to users the potential effects of sleep deprivation or stress on their bodies.

Since no two people react to food the same, it's not a one-size-fits-all problem, which is why people are adopting these monitors. After consuming specific meals, some people experience problems with their blood sugar, while others experience no problems at all.