 |
| Photo courtesy: Julius Schorzman |
DIABETES DIGEST – Nov. 11, 2014 – Researchers have identified the chemical compound in coffee that may prevent the harmful effects of obesity.
Previous research has shown that coffee may lower the risk of some chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Consequently researchers are looking at the chemicals found in coffee to see which of them may be providing the beneficial effect.
Researchers at the University of Georgia, led by Dr. Yongjie Ma, tested the compound called chlorogenic acid, or CGA, which is abundant in coffee, to see if it affects insulin resistance in mice fed a high-fat diet. They found that CGA was not only effective in preventing weight gain, but it also helped maintain normal blood sugar levels and healthy liver composition. The study was published in the journal Pharmaceutical Research
The authors are quick to point out that they used a much higher dose of CGA than is contained in coffee, and the effect was shown in mice. Consequently there is a ways to go to see if it works in humans. Until then, they say CGA is not a cure-all and proper diet and regular exercise are still the best methods to reduce the risks associated with obesity.
However, the researchers do believe that CGA may form the foundation of a treatment for those who need extra help. They plan to conduct more research to develop an improved CGA formulation specifically for human consumption.
No comments:
Post a Comment