ScienceDaily (July 8, 2008) — Trans-fatty acids have been the topic of a lot of negative health news, but a new dietary study in rats suggests that trans-fats do not increase the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes, which may ease at least one area of concern.

Epidemiological studies indicate that chronic consumption of trans-fats may alter muscle insulin sensitivity, as their unusual molecular shapes can reduce muscle's ability to burn energy; in turn, reduced fat oxidation may promote insulin resistance.

The data in this area has been conflicting, so Beatrice Morio and colleagues undertook a detailed study in rats. They gave rats an eight-week diet enriched in either industrial trans-fats (processed oils), natural trans-fats (dairy fat), or regular unsaturated fats.

In none of the cases did the diet alter the rat's insulin or glucose responses, nor did it significantly affect their muscle capacity. The researchers confirmed their rat studies in cell culture studies by incubating muscle cells with either trans-fatty acids or oleic acid (olive oil); as in the rats, there were no noticeable difference in the insulin sensitivity of the cells.

So while trans-fatty acids are still relatively unhealthy, these findings do show that muscles can utilize them, whether natural or industrial, much like regular fats; thus, trans-fat metabolites won't accumulate in muscles and increase the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

1. Tardy et al. Effects of trans MUFA from dairy and industrial sources on muscle mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity. The Journal of Lipid Research, 2008; 49 (7): 1445 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.M700561-JLR200

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Related Stories

Pregnant Mothers' Diet Linked To Baby's Obesity, Study Suggests (Apr. 7, 2008) — Rats eating trans-fatty acid while pregnant or breastfeeding have fatter babies. The unhealthy diet has deleterious consequences even after the fats were removed from the diet and has links to ...  > read more

Banning Trans Fats Would Save Lives, Say Doctors (Apr. 16, 2010) — Banning trans fats from all foods in the UK would prevent thousands of heart attacks and deaths every year, and would be a simple way to protect the public and save lives, say two senior ...  > read more

Maternal Diet High in Trans Fats Doubles Risk of Excess Body Fat in Breastfed Babies, Study Finds (Sep. 30, 2010) — A new study suggests that mothers who consume a diet high in trans fats double the likelihood that their infants will have high levels of body ...  > read more

Palm Oil Not A Healthy Substitute For Trans Fats, Study Finds (May 11, 2009) — Manufacturers are now required to state on food labels the amount of trans fatty acids, also called hydrogenated fats, in packaged foods. Both trans fatty acids and saturated fatty acids are ...  > read more

Search ScienceDaily