New Study Sheds Light on How Obesity Impairs Immune Cell Function

(Newswire.net — August 27, 2021) Orlando, FL — Obesity has long been linked with a myriad of undesirable health effects. In the United States, it is even considered an epidemic.

A study was carried out and published in Cell, which is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research papers across a broad range of disciplines within the life sciences.

In this research, it has been found that obesity causes impairment in immune cell function. What makes it all the more disadvantageous is that it may also accelerate tumor growth. 

The researchers found that a high-fat diet allows cancer cells to outcompete immune cells for fuel. 

In previous research studies, obesity has been associated with the increased odds of more than a dozen of different types of cancer. Further, it is also associated with a worse prognosis and survival.

Scientists have been able to identify obesity-linked processes that drive the growth of tumors. These include chronic inflammation as well as metabolic changes. 

This study involving mice was carried out by the Harvard Medical School researchers. 

The investigating team has shown that a high-fat diet lessens the numbers and antitumor activity of CD8+ T cells, which are a critical type of immune cell, inside tumors. 

According to experts, this happens due to the ability of cancer cells to reprogram their metabolism in response to increased fat availability. This is for the purpose of better gobbling up energy-rich fat molecules, which deprives T cells of fuel and accelerates tumor growth.

Marcia Haigis, says that putting the same tumor in obese and nonobese settings reveals that cancer cells rewire their metabolism in response to a high-fat diet.

Marcia Haigis is a professor of cell biology in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS and co-senior author of the study. 

“This finding suggests that a therapy that would potentially work in one setting might not be as effective in another, which needs to be better understood given the obesity epidemic in our society,” she adds.

Health authorities have long been stressing the relevance of managing a healthy weight. Most people actually don’t want to be obese and be able to manage weight. However, it is not at all an easy process especially for individuals who are already carrying excess weight.

Today, the global market offers a myriad of weight loss products. Unfortunately, many do not produce weight loss benefits and are even associated with adverse effects.

It is strongly recommended to stick with healthy dietary and lifestyle practices to manage a healthy weight. A weight-loss journey may be made even more beneficial by adding natural formulas like Divine Bounty L-Carnitine (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF7K9MM).