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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When you overload your body with calories, not only can it wreak havoc on your waistline, but it can actually throw your brain out of whack.
Previous studies have shown over-nutrition can spark inflammation in metabolic tissues like the muscles and liver. This inflammation can cause metabolic defects in those tissues that underlie type 2 diabetes. Results of a new study show a chronic high-fat diet doubles the inflammatory process in the brains of mice. The inflammation was observed in the hypothalamus -- the headquarters for maintaining energy balance.
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Surprisingly, this brain inflammation was observed regardless of weight gain due to overnutrition. Researchers say treatments designed to block this brain inflammation could fight the spread of obesity and related diseases, like diabetes and heart disease.
SOURCE: Cell, 2008;
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