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Gene linked to obesity and diabetes discovered
A team of scientists at the Imperial College of London have made public their success
to have discovered a gene linked to obesity and diabetes. They consider the work very
important as diabetes and obesity increase the likelihood of potentially fatal diseases
such as heart attacks
Dr Philippe Froguel and his colleagues conducted their study in France, researching on
families with an obviously history of diabetes and obesity, and compared them with
healthy families.
According to the team conclusions, faulty versions of the gene, called ‘ENPP1’, block
the insulin hormone, by this way disrupting the process the body stores energy and
manages sugar. Even five year-old kids with faulty versions of this gene were considered
obese.
This new discovery offers a hope for a diagnostic test as early detection and treatment
of the problem could help save many lives,
“What is extremely worrying is the children who had these mutations developed obesity
at an early age - age five to six - and diabetes occurred in middle age. If we can identify
those at risk at an earlier age, it may be possible to take preventative measures earlier on,
and reduce the burden of ill health caused by obesity in later life,” the BBC quoted
Dr Froguel as saying.
The scientist conclusion is that some people are genetically prone to develop obesity
and diabetes as they found that many of the obese children possessed faulty versions of the gene.
Investigating the adults in the families they found a similar link between the gene variants and
obesity, and also early warning signs of diabetes.
NOTE: The Information on this site is provided for information only,
and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional.
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