Eat Cake! New Study Says It's All in the Genes

Ah, if only!

No more cutting out cakes and cookies.  No more skipping lunch.  No more Weight Watchers.

Now all you have to do is find the gene that blocks fat.  Or, at least, scientists do.

According to a new study, by blocking the expression (or working) of a certain gene in patients, University of Montreal researchers have been able to isolate and somewhat shut down the production of the triglycerides that cause hypertriglyceridemia, the ones most often associated with frequent health issues, such as obesity or diabetes.

“Triglycerides, like cholesterol, are lipids. They come from fats carried by our food or produced by our bodies. Depending on the cause, the accumulation of triglycerides in blood is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and pancreatic illnesses, and other complications,” explains Dr. Daniel Gaudet, first author of the study.  

What all that gobbledygook simply means is that, if the gene that produces this can be blocked, so may obesity or diabetes.

 More than one-third (or over 35% of our population) is obese in this country.  That's a lot of people.  Being able to shut this gene off may be a long way away but at least it provides hope that maybe we can see a decrease in heart attacks, cancer and diabetes -- illnesses all caused by overweight.

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