An article on the Health Canal website discusses some of the ongoing research into understanding how fat stem cells work within the human body.  A new study has looked at fat stem cells to help researchers ascertain how excess fat is stored.  The research was a joint project between University of Bristol and the Anti-Doping Laboratory Qatar (ADLQ). 

In Qatar, an estimated 70 percent of the population is now overweight.  Authorities are deeply concerned about the related health issues from obesity including diabetes and heart disease. 

Scientists looked at two groups of obese patients.  The first group had a normal response to insulin while the other group had an increased risk of having type 2 diabetes.  The goal was to understand how fat built up in their bodies and how it related to insulin production. 

If researchers can find links between fat stem cells, insulin and diabetes risk, they may be able to assess patient risk earlier on.  If an obese patient can be assessed for diabetes risk at an early stage, the correct therapeutic treatments can be started quickly.

One of the researchers, Dr Wael Kafienah explained:  “We know that around 30 per cent of obese patients do not develop diabetes and are metabolically healthy. We want to find out what’s happening at a molecular level to establish why some obese people have a level of protection against serious problems such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, cancer and heart disease”.

The researchers believe that the origins of obesity-related health problems can be traced all the way back to how fat stem cells replenish fat cells.

Source: Deciphering the role of fat stem cells in obesity and diabetes

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