You are what you eat when it comes to fat, reports a research team from McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) in the journal Science Advances.
Dietary fats are converted into lipids, which make up the membranes that surround all living cells.
The type of fat a person consumes may determine whether stem cells are converted into bone cells or fat cells, said Ilya Levental, Ph.D., the study's senior author and assistant professor of integrative biology and pharmacology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.
Body Fat
Our body is composed of water, fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The fat content in the body is called body fat.
Advertisement
‘Adding DHA fats to mesenchymal stem cells pushed them to transform into osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) as opposed to adipocytes (fat-storing cells).’
Tweet it Now
"The fats that we consume such as cholesterol, unsaturated fats and fish oil become robustly incorporated into the membranes of our cells and dramatically change the composition and function of those membranes," said Levental, a Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Scholar. To test their theory, Kandice Levental, Ph.D., the study's lead author and assistant professor of integrative biology and pharmacology at McGovern Medical School, measured the lipid content of mesenchymal (connective tissue) stem cells as they transformed into bone cells or fat cells.
The Leventals found that bone cell membranes had unique compositions, being particularly high in a type of dietary fat, omega-3 polyunsaturated fat. This fat is also called DHA and is the most abundant component of fish oil, a common dietary supplement. Most importantly, they found that adding such fish oil fats to mesenchymal stem cells pushed them to transform into osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) as opposed to adipocytes (fat-storing cells).
![Brown Fat to Fight Flab]( "Brown Fat to Fight Flab")
Around 50 grams of white fat stores 300 kilocalories. In contrast the same amount of brown fat burns 300 kilocalories a day. Such is the magic of this good fat.
This fundamental research helps explain why fish oil might benefit people with osteoporosis, a bone weakening disorder. More broadly, it may provide insight into the many connections between dietary fats and a variety of clinical outcomes, including healthy aging and heart disease.
"Our investigations suggest a general mechanism by which dietary fats affect cellular physiology through remodeling of membrane lipidomes, biophysical properties and signaling," the authors wrote.
Source: Eurekalert
Brown Fat to Fight Flab
Around 50 grams of white fat stores 300 kilocalories. In contrast the same amount of brown fat burns 300 kilocalories a day. Such is the magic of this good fat.
Advertisement
This fundamental research helps explain why fish oil might benefit people with osteoporosis, a bone weakening disorder. More broadly, it may provide insight into the many connections between dietary fats and a variety of clinical outcomes, including healthy aging and heart disease.
"Our investigations suggest a general mechanism by which dietary fats affect cellular physiology through remodeling of membrane lipidomes, biophysical properties and signaling," the authors wrote.
Source: Eurekalert
Importance of Fat in the Diet
Fat along with protein and carbohydrate are essential nutrients for normal body function and for maintaining our well-being.
Advertisement
 Fat-Burning Foods for MenWhat are the best fat-burning foods? Some vegetables like spinach, mushrooms; certain nuts, legumes and lentils help burn fat. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest Diet & Nutrition News
By replacing healthy meals with unhealthy snacks, one-fourth of people counteract the benefits of wholesome meals, increasing their risk of metabolic disorders.
Recent study underscores that food items from tobacco-affiliated companies exhibit a higher level of "hyperpalatability" compared to their rivals.
The Keto diet may improve reproductive health in PCOS women, reducing testosterone levels & aiding weight loss.
A new study conducted in yeast underscores that maintaining a healthy diet during early life can significantly contribute to overall well-being during the aging process.
A study offering a comprehensive review of research concerning minimally processed vegetables (MPVs), particularly centered on the Brazilian market.
