Culprit Behind Obesity-related Cardiovascular Disease Identified

Washington, Nov 11 (ANI): A new study by researchers at Ohio University has revealed that obesity raises levels of the hormone leptin, which can be a big threat to the cardiovascular system.

Leptin, a peptide hormone produced by fat cells, helps regulate body weight by acting on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and burn stored fat.

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However, an excess of fat in the body can produce too much of the hormone, which, in turn, can lower levels of bioavailable nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide, produced by the endothelial cells, supports healthy cardiovascular function by relaxing blood vessels and maintaining good blood flow, said Tadeusz Malinski, who has developed special nanosensors that can detect levels of the substance.

Also, Malinski found that the high levels of leptin stimulate greater production of superoxide. It reacts with nitric oxide to create peroxynitrite, a very toxic molecule that can impact DNA replication and damage endothelial cells in the vascular system.

"The nanosensors provide a more direct method of determining what processes are occurring in the body. Previously, researchers didn't have a clear idea of how this works," said Malinski, the Marvin and Ann Dilley White Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Ohio University.

Malinski said that though obesity is closely associated with heart failure, scientists haven't fully understood the relationship.

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The new study suggests that increased levels of leptin alone can cause long-term cardiovascular damage similar to hypertension, arthrosclerosis, diabetes and other disorders.

"Now that we know the exact molecules responsible for the damage, we can design a method to mollify the effect of obesity on the cardiovascular system," Malinski said.

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Combining moderate exercise with leptin hormone, once heralded as a promising obesity treatment, can renew the hormone’s ability to prevent weight gain, says a new study.

The study was published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. (ANI)

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