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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Even if youre not keeping tabs on the amount of fat you consume this holiday season, your brain will.
Researchers discovered one type of lipid produced in the gut rises after eating fatty foods. The lipid, called N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines or NAPE, enters the bloodstream and goes straight to the brain. NAPEs concentrate in a brain region that controls food intake and energy expenditure.
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The most abundant form of NAPE seems to be effective in controlling fat intake even when administered artificially. Researchers believe this could mean treatments designed to boost NAPE levels might offer a new way to fight obesity.
In a study where rats were given NAPE for five days, researchers saw a continuous reduction in food intake and a decline in body weight. Infusion of NAPE directly into their brains also led the animals to cut back on calories.
Study authors conclude these findings warrant longer-term studies in rodents and non-human participants to examine the potential for treatment and prevention of diet-induced obesity.
SOURCE: Cell, November 2008
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