Scientists from the Hannover Medical School have shown that obesity along with vitamin A deficiency changes the activity of genes responsible for the normal functioning of the heart. Work published American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.
Researchers fed vitamin A-deficient mice to make them obese. In the twentieth week of the experiment, the scientists compared the heart function and metabolism of obese mice with vitamin A deficiency or normal levels.
Obesity combined with vitamin A deficiency suppressed the expression (activity) of genes associated with the extraction of energy from fat, glucose, and production of the energy-carrying molecule adenosine triphosphate in the heart.
Disruption of these genes can have a negative effect on the heart’s metabolism and ability to contract. The scientists hope their discovery will prevent mitochondrial and contractile dysfunction in diet-induced obesity.
It was previously known that impaired vitamin A metabolism is associated with type 2 diabetes and mitochondrial dysfunction, which increases the risk of developing heart muscle abnormalities in diabetes.
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Source: Gazeta
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