Fat gene linked to diabetes battle

A fat gene has been identified that appears to protect against diabetes.

The discovery suggests that, contrary to popular belief, fatty adipose tissue can benefit the body's metabolism.

Research shows how the gene, ChREBP, resists diabetes by converting glucose sugar into fatty acids. It also boosts sensitivity to insulin, the vital hormone that regulates blood sugar.

However, in most obese people, sugar is blocked from entering fat cells and blood sugar levels rise.

Eventually, this leads to insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes.

Scientists believe the findings could lead to new treatments for diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

They add to previous research based on 123 fat samples from non-diabetic people which showed the gene was more active in those whose bodies had a better sugar balance.

The fat gene's activity also correlated with insulin sensitivity in obese, non-diabetic people.

'The general concept of fat as all bad is not true,' said lead investigator Dr Mark Herman from Harvard Medical School in the US.

'Obesity is commonly associated with metabolic dysfunction that puts people at higher risk for diabetes, stroke and heart disease but there is a large percentage of obese people who are metabolically healthy.

'We started with a mouse model that disassociates obesity from its adverse effects.'...