Ученые обнаружили, что вещество в цитрусовых защищает от ожирения и диабета

Scientists have found that a natural compound found in some citrus fruits could help protect against obesity and related health problems, Knowridge reported. The compound, known as nobiletin, is found in sweet oranges and mandarins. Researchers at Western University in Canada studied nobiletin because obesity is closely linked to serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease. The team studied the compound in mice fed a diet high in fat and cholesterol. Some of the mice were also given nobiletin. Despite consuming the unhealthy diet, they remained noticeably leaner than those that did not receive the citrus compound. The mice given nobiletin also showed lower insulin resistance and healthier levels of fats in their blood. The researchers found that the compound could reduce harmful changes even after obesity-related problems had already developed. One particularly important finding was that nobiletin reduced the build-up of plaque in the mice’s arteries, suggesting that its effects extend beyond weight control. The scientists initially believed that the compound worked by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme that promotes fat burning. Surprisingly, however, the experiments showed that nobiletin produced beneficial effects even in the absence of this enzyme, suggesting that it acts through another biological mechanism that has yet to be identified. The findings do not mean that eating oranges will prevent obesity, as the study was conducted in mice. Clinical trials in humans will be needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of nobiletin. The study, led by Murray Huff, was published in the Journal of Lipid Research. | BGNES