McMaster University researchers identify hormone that contributes to obesity,diabetes

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Northerner

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Researchers from McMaster University have identified an important hormone that is elevated in obese people and contributes to obesity and diabetes by inhibiting brown fat activity.

Brown adipose tissue, widely known as brown fat, is located around the collarbone and acts as the body's furnace to burn calories. It also keeps the body warm. Obese people have less of it, and its activity is decreased with age. Until now, researchers haven't understood why.

There are two types of serotonin. Most people are familiar with the first type in the brain or central nervous system which affects mood and appetite. But this makes up only five per cent of the body's serotonin.

The lesser-known peripheral serotonin circulates in the blood and makes up the other 95 per cent of the body's serotonin. McMaster researchers have discovered that this kind of serotonin reduces brown fat activity or "dials down" the body's metabolic furnace.

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20...one-that-contributes-to-obesity-diabetes.aspx
 
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