Obesity and the Flu (Total Health, Volume 27, No. 6)
This is a lay article that the Inflammation class read. It's a perfect example of a person (Dr.) using scare tactics to get his point across, and overall losing the reader as well as the point he was trying to make.
The article talks about "silent inflammation" which, when you do a search on it, a term made up by Dr. Sears of The Zone fame (and for a low low price, you can buy his book on how to reduce silent inflammation following his diet).
Overall the article just uses big words to try to establish the link between obesity and the incidence of getting the flu. It's possible that obese people may be more at risk (due to increased inflammatory cytokines-read the other posts), but there are other reasons as well, that were never covered in this article...including access to flu shots, proper hygiene, etc.
It's very interesting to read articles that are out in the general literature. It helps you understand where a large portion of the country is getting misleading information!! That's why a site like Inflammablog is so important...let's get the real information out there!!
06 September 2007
05 September 2007
Being Obese Without Having Diabetes or Metabolic Syndrome
In this week’s discussion the class is covering the topics of Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome based from the articles posted on the 495 website. An interesting point that reoccurs in all of the articles is about Insulin Resistance. The development of insulin resistance is not yet known. However, we know it is a precursor of type 2 diabetes and increases amongst the obese population. There are no genetic connections that can be determined yet about insulin resistance. Do you think that understanding the development of insulin resistance is the goal in helping eliminate and control Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome amongst the obese population?
It appears that once scientists are able to fully understand the pathway of insulin resistance, a big advancement will be made in these three inflammatory diseases. Obesity, a state of chronic inflammation, is the root cause for these inflammatory diseases which links insulin resistance amongst them. Adipose tissue is now known as a major endocrine organ. Some of the chemicals excreted here adiponectin, leptin, TNF-a, resistin, IL-6, and CRP. These chemicals have a direct affect upon obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The one process that seems to be interconnected amongst all of these is insulin resistance. Once this process is determined, doctors will be able to control the inflammation pathways that cause these diseases to get out of control. What I propose is that once the scientists and doctors figure out this pathway, they will be able to control diabetes, metabolic syndrome, as well as other inflammatory diseases amongst the obese. One will be able to be obese without these health concerns.
It appears that once scientists are able to fully understand the pathway of insulin resistance, a big advancement will be made in these three inflammatory diseases. Obesity, a state of chronic inflammation, is the root cause for these inflammatory diseases which links insulin resistance amongst them. Adipose tissue is now known as a major endocrine organ. Some of the chemicals excreted here adiponectin, leptin, TNF-a, resistin, IL-6, and CRP. These chemicals have a direct affect upon obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The one process that seems to be interconnected amongst all of these is insulin resistance. Once this process is determined, doctors will be able to control the inflammation pathways that cause these diseases to get out of control. What I propose is that once the scientists and doctors figure out this pathway, they will be able to control diabetes, metabolic syndrome, as well as other inflammatory diseases amongst the obese. One will be able to be obese without these health concerns.
Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 Diabetes and Inflammation.
The association between Metabolic Syndrome, Type 2 diabetes and Inflammation.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Even more shocking is the fact that 80% of those who develop type 2 diabetes are obese. Obesity is a factor that initiates a cascade of events such as insulin reistance, type 2 diabetes and inflammation. Studies have shown that abnormal cytokine production specifically over expression of cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) leads to insulin resistance. Another name for insulin resistance is metabolic syndrome. Over expression of TNF-alpha is predominantly seen in the obese. In fact studies have shown that after weight loss TNF-alpha expression decreases which lowers insulin resistance.
TNF-alpha over expression causes metabolic syndrome. With the metabolic support not stable, insulin resistance occurs. Metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance) causes a decrease in glucose transport. High amounts of glucose and fatty acids build up in the bloodstream. Long lasting insulin resistance as described leads to type 2 diabetes. This state of insulin resistance not only leads to type 2 diabetes but it promotes inflammation. How does it promote inflammation? Well an adipose tissue hormone called leptin initiates inflammation. Stimulation of leptin is caused through over expression of TNF-alpha and interleukin-6. This is a key link between obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation. Since obesity and diabetes are proinflammatory states, the link to controlling inflammation is by reducing obesity.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Even more shocking is the fact that 80% of those who develop type 2 diabetes are obese. Obesity is a factor that initiates a cascade of events such as insulin reistance, type 2 diabetes and inflammation. Studies have shown that abnormal cytokine production specifically over expression of cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) leads to insulin resistance. Another name for insulin resistance is metabolic syndrome. Over expression of TNF-alpha is predominantly seen in the obese. In fact studies have shown that after weight loss TNF-alpha expression decreases which lowers insulin resistance.
TNF-alpha over expression causes metabolic syndrome. With the metabolic support not stable, insulin resistance occurs. Metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance) causes a decrease in glucose transport. High amounts of glucose and fatty acids build up in the bloodstream. Long lasting insulin resistance as described leads to type 2 diabetes. This state of insulin resistance not only leads to type 2 diabetes but it promotes inflammation. How does it promote inflammation? Well an adipose tissue hormone called leptin initiates inflammation. Stimulation of leptin is caused through over expression of TNF-alpha and interleukin-6. This is a key link between obesity, insulin resistance and inflammation. Since obesity and diabetes are proinflammatory states, the link to controlling inflammation is by reducing obesity.
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