The discovery of the role a compound plays on fat absorption might lower the risk of type 2 diabetes even if your diet includes high levels of fat, researchers have found. The compound, a type of soluble cellulose called HPMC, when added to fat-rich foods leads to slower absorption of fat, said United States Department of Agriculture chemists. HPMC, already used as an additive to improve texture of foods and medicines, however, is not likely to have any effect on obesity.
At a meeting of the American Chemical Society, researchers said that HPMC decreases fats absorption, thereby restricting high levels of fat from affecting the digestive system.
In an experiment spanning four weeks, researchers kept hamsters on a diet that had the fat levels resembling those in typical American fast food. After being on the diet for four weeks, the hamsters developed insulin resistance, a condition that indicates type 2 diabetes. At the same time, another group of hamsters ate the same fat-rich diet but were also given HPMC instead of the insoluble fiber that high fat food generally contains. Unlike the hamsters in the first group, this group showed no signs of insulin resistance.
Only about five grams of HPMC can affect a person’s health positively, researchers said, adding that the compound also controlled the manner in which the transportation of fat to the body’s adipose tissues took place. Fats that are absorbed too fast into the body tend to be transported to non-adipose tissues like heart, liver and pancreas, wreaking havoc on the cells of these tissues.
Diabetes is brought on by damage to the pancreas.
The scientists, however, said that further research is required for learning the exact effect that HPMC has on fat absorption.
