2502 NYCC TRANS FINAL2 - New York Chiropractic College

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Leptin and Weight Loss by Jaclyn McDermott, 7th Trimester Is HMB a Safe Supplement for Weight Reduction? by Alana Starr, 3 rd Trimester Obesity, a leading health problem in the United States, often precedes heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Within the past few years, scientists have made promising breakthroughs that link obesity with genetics. The genetic/obesity association revealed itself through the 1950 discovery of the ob (obese) gene and, more recently, with the 1994 cloning of mice at R o c k efeller University. Specifically, the ob gene encodes for a protein known as leptin. The amount of leptin present in the blood d i rectly impacts people’s body mass and body fat indices. Defective ob genes fail to produce leptin, and consequently the organism is never told to stop eating. Studies involving mice injected with the ob gene support leptin’s link with weight maintenance. Leptin not only kills fat cells while sparing lean muscle tissue, but also suppresses appetite and augments energy expenditure. Leptin activates a part of the brain - the hypothalamus - that regulates food consumption and water intake. The hypothalamus responds to leptin in two distinct ways. Leptin activates anorectic nerve cells in the medial hypothalamus to release appetite-suppressing neuropeptides. At the same time, leptin inhibits another group of cells known as orexigenic cells (literally translated: “to eat”) and prevents them from releasing a potent appetite-stimulating neuropeptide (LEPTIN.HMS). Leptin also suppresses biochemical reactions that contribute to lipid accumulation. The ob gene expression in cultured cells suppresses both expression of the acetyl-CoA carboxlylase gene and synthesis of hormone-induced lipids. Hence, leptin reduces both fat storage and fat synthesis. Finally, leptin has been associated with physiologic effects other than weight loss. It is found in the endothelial cells that line blood vessels. Leptin that was injected into the corneas of rats stimulated new blood vessel formation in the area. Since cancer cells are also associated with neovascularization, the infiltration of leptin in blood vessel walls may be the cause of secondary weight loss in cancer patients. What’s more, leptin injections improved immune response in mice. Clearly, more research is needed before all of leptin’s influences on the human system are fully understood. Nevertheless, leptin appears to offer promise in man’s constant “battle of the bulge.” Chiropractors who counsel patients regarding weight control are aware that muscle mass is always a relevant consideration. Research suggests that beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl butyrate (HMB), often used to help AIDS patients maintain muscle mass, may help obese patients safely burn fat and build muscle mass. HMB is naturally formed in the body by the breakdown of the amino acid leucine and is found in small amounts in many plants and animals, most notably alfalfa and catfish. It can also be purchased as a nutritional supplement, though it is costly. The supplement increases the rate at which fat is turned into energy, and accelerates formation of lean muscle tissue. Together with exercise, HMB also significantly reduces cholesterol and helps lower blood pressure. However, it should not be taken solely for the purpose of reducing cholesterol or low- ering blood pressure. The recommended dose of HMB is 1.5g - 3g per day. Higher doses do not improve effects. HMB is effective only if patients exercise regularly and incorporate resistance training into their exercise program. Best results have been observed in untrained athletes or non-athletes. Elderly people and athletes who regularly attended a gym experienced less dramatic improvement. Thus far, HMB has shown no significant negative impacts on the function of the liver, kidneys, or other organs; neither has it been found harmful to patients’ musculature. Drug interactions are unknown at this time. Use of Nonprescription Weight Loss Products Expected to Rise A recent multistate survey of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion indicates that seven percent of American adults use nonprescription weight-loss products. Overall use was especially common among young obese women, and a surprising eight percent of normal-weight women also reported using nonprescription weight loss products. As the rate of obesity continues to climb and as supplements purported to control weight become increasingly available, the trend toward nonprescription weight-loss products is likely to continue. This trend highlights the great need for chiropractors qualified to assist their patients with supplement and nutritional counseling. 20
From Mighty Mice to Healthy Humans Discovered Protein Fragment Causes Muscles to Burn Fat at High Rate The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported a study about obese mice losing weight irrespective of the amount of food they ate. What’s more, their food contained lots of fat and calories. Harvey Lodish of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, who teaches at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discovered a protein normally secreted by human fat cells called Acrp 30. When he isolated a fragment of the protein called gAcrp30 and injected it into obese mice, it resulted in weight loss. It appears the fragment works by forcing muscles to burn fatty acids at a high rate rather than storing them as fat cells. What promise does this hold for obese people? Dr. Lodish is cautiously optimistic, though some challenges remain. Since gAcrp30 is a protein, and proteins taken orally are usually destroyed when digested, injection is the only current means by which it is introduced successfully into the system. Protein Discovered That Prevents Fat Cell Formation Man’s efforts to thwart encroaching flab were highlighted by a research team at the University of Michigan, according to the journal Science. Graduate student Sarah Ross led the study, isolating a protein that stops precursor cells from becoming fat cells. The protein Wnt-10b essentially functions as a “fat switch” that tells a cell not to become a fat cell — thereby allowing the cell instead to become lean muscle. Thus far, only mice have found the team’s findings useful. Obese Men Lose Abdominal Fat With CLA’s The International Journal of Obesity reports that obese men who ingested conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) experienced significant abdominal fat reduction. A four-week study involved 24 obese men between the ages of 39 and 64. Some men were given a daily dose of 4.2 grams of CLA, while others received a placebo. The CLA group had significant waistline reduction while the placebo group did not. What’s more, the CLA group experienced no increased cardiovascular risk factors. CLA’s are found naturally in red meat, lamb and dairy products, and CLA supplements are commonly sold in health stores. CLA’s discovery was a fortuitous happenstance. Michael Pariza, a University of Wisconsin-Madison food scientist, isolated CLA in 1987 as he looked for a chemical in burned hamburger that appeared to prevent cancer in lab animals. Students caring for Pariza’s lab animals noticed that although the animals that ingested CLA were growing faster than normal, they were eating less than usual. More specifically, a diet containing 0.5 percent CLA reduced body fat in mice and other lab animals by 50 to 75 percent, yet increased the amount of muscle. CLA battles the bulge by interfering with an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase that the body uses to move fat from the blood into fat cells, and that would otherwise have made the fat cells fatter. It also enhances the enzyme hormone-sensitive lipase — breaking down fat within fat cells and making it possible for muscles to burn it. Hog and steer producers have found that introduction of CLA into their animals’ feed will result in leaner cuts of meat. Researchers Isolate Enzyme That Regulates Fat Burning Researchers at Houston’s Baylor <strong>College</strong> of Medicine found that when an enzyme called acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) is blocked in mice, they can eat a lot more food than other mice and still weigh 10 to 15 percent less! ACC2 activates Malynyl CoA, an enzyme found largely in skeletal and cardiac muscle and known to regulate fat metabolism. Whenever the enzyme is suppressed, fat is burned rather than stored. As a result, the researchers are now looking into compounds to be used in a pill for humans that would block secretion of ACC2. www.nycc.edu 21
Page 1 and 2: Fall 2001/Winter 2002 Special Featu
Page 3 and 4: Fall 2001/Winter 2002 New York Chir
Page 5 and 6: President’s Council 2001 Presiden
Page 7 and 8: from the PROVOST Faculty Promotions
Page 9 and 10: our toy poodle, under her shirt to
Page 11 and 12: NYCC Intern Gerald Stevens Returns
Page 13 and 14: CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH CENTERS OF NYCC
Page 15 and 16: Interview With: Howard F. Loomis, J
Page 17 and 18: Treating Osteoporosis From an Exerc
Page 19: Dopamine, Obesity and Addiction Doe
Page 23 and 24: Turmeric: The Golden Root with the
Page 25 and 26: Interview With: Howard F. Loomis, J
Page 27 and 28: AN EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE for recomm
Page 29 and 30: 12345678901234567890123456789012123
Page 31 and 32: STUDENT/ALUMNI NETWORK PROGRAM In a
Page 33 and 34: news BRIEFS Drs. Cartica and Nicchi
Page 35 and 36: Unity Day 2001 by Alana Starr, 3rd
Page 37 and 38: center for POSTGRADUATE AND CONTINU
Page 39 and 40: Dr. Dennis Homack, D.C., C.C.S.P.,
Page 41 and 42: Ergonomic Nutrition by Dennis Homac
Page 43 and 44: y Daniel Kanaley, Library Director
Page 45 and 46: esearch ROUNDUP Visiting Chiropract
Page 47 and 48: COMMENCEMENT commencement August 20
Page 49 and 50: What’s News? What’s News? What
Page 51 and 52: www.nycc.edu 51
Page 53 and 54: enrollment MANAGEMENT Amanda Gray L
Page 55 and 56: PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE by Beth

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