Health Highlights: March 3, 2008
TOOLBOX   Resize Text
 Save/Share +
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
|
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors ofHealthDay:
Black Tea May Help Fight Diabetes
Certain ingredients in black tea could act as an insulin substitute and might help prevent type 2 diabetes, according to a study by researchers at Dundee University in Scotland.
They found that several components of black tea -- called theaflavins and thearubigins -- mimic the action of insulin,BBC Newsreported. Diabetes develops when the body fails to make enough insulin or use it properly.
"What we have found is that these constituents can mimic insulin action on proteins known as foxos," said team leader Dr. Graham Rena. "Foxos have previously been shown to underlie associations between diet and health in a wide variety of organisms including mice, worms and fruit flies."
Rena said the next step is to determine whether there's a way to translate these findings into something that could benefit humans,BBC Newsreported.
"People shouldn't be rushing to drink masses of black tea thinking it will cure them of diabetes. We are still some way from this leading to new treatments or dietary advice," he said. "Our research into tea compounds is at a preclinical, experimental stage and people with diabetes should continue to take their medication as directed by their doctor."
The study was published in the journalAging Cell.
-----
Scientists ID Proteins Linked to Stomach Expansion While Eating
A potential new method of treating obesity by preventing the stomach from expanding while a person eats has been identified by researchers at University College London in Great Britain.
The scientists pinpointed two cell proteins -- P2Y1 and P2Y11 -- that relax the stomach so it can enlarge to make room for food,BBC Newsreported. It may be possible to develop a drug that blocks this stomach relaxation, thus reducing a person's ability and desire to eat too much, the researchers said.
