Linking fat and a longer life

New European-funded research could be moving science a step closer to understanding the complexities of obesity development in Europe, which in turn would help health professionals to provide effective, evidence-based dietary advice.

A concerted European action based in Toulouse, France, called FATLINK, examined dietary fat, body weight control and links between diet and cardiovascular disease (CVD). According to the researchers, both obesity and CVD must result from the interactions between genetic and environmental factors. However, the gene pool in Europe is unlikely to have changed substantially, and many environmental factors are similar across Europe, but not everybody develops these conditions.

Researchers hypothesised that fatty acids are an important mediator in the development of obesity and CVD. As a consequence, the project focused on dietary fatty acids and explored their effects in terms of, for example, regulation of gene expression. The researchers suggest that it may be possible to tailor treatments for weight control (e.g. very low calorie diets or exercise programmes) to individuals likely to respond.

The project developed new ways of measuring mRNA levels that led to major progress in studying the regulation of gene expression. In particular, researchers focused on the impact of hormones and nutrients on adipose tissue and skeletal muscle gene expression. They found that in obese peoples' adipose tissue, the expression of several genes involved in lipid metabolism was impaired.

Researchers further suggest that in obese people with diabetes, substituting dietary saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats could lead to a change in abdominal fat distribution and improved insulin sensitivity.

For further information about the above project contact Dr Dominique Langin, (ynatva@gbhybhfr.vafrez.se​), director of research, INSERM U317, Institut Louis Bugnard, CHU Rangueil, 31403 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.