14 DAY TRIAL // A team of investigators form the University of Michigan managed to gain new insight into how the substance niacin works in the human body, reducing the risk people have of developing heart diseases.
This type of investigation is extremely important, given the high number of people suffering from this array of conditions, the fact that they are widespread, and also their high casualty rates.
Official statistics for the United States show that a heart attack strikes in the country once every 25 seconds. Additionally, one in six people has excessively high blood cholesterol levels.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that, every minute, an American dies due to heart attacks, or related complications stemming from it.
Experts add that the highest risk factor for developing such heart diseases are elevated levels of lipids in the blood. Niacin, or vitamin B3, is known to counteract these negative effects.
The substance is considered to be an essential human nutrient, which means that it is of tremendous importance for the good functioning of the body. There are 40 to 80 such chemicals, scientists say.
The issue with them is that they cannot be synthesized by the human body. Those that can are usually produced in to lower quantities to make a difference. They have to be obtained through foods.
Niacin is one such substance, and it was the focus of a new study by experts at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute. They studied exactly how niacin affects the human body.
In addition to lowering blood triglycerides levels, the substance was also determined to have a positive influence on the metabolism of lipids. This is in addition to its action on fat tissues, the team says.
The new work was conducted by U-M research assistant professor and assistant professor of cell and developmental biology, Jiandie Lin.
Results such as these are allowing for the team to analyze methods of controlling a new molecular pathway, which scientists discovered responds to the actions of vitamin B3.
“If we can target PGC-1beta or apoC3 [both of which are proteins] with small molecules or siRNA therapeutics, we may capture the benefits of niacin without its side effects,” Lin explains.
PGC-1beta levels are controlled by a pathway in the liver, and the molecules act straight on apoC3. The latter protein is involved in series of important processes.
Its main function is controlling how fast triglycerides are used by tissues, and then broken down in the bloodstream.
Funding for the new work came from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Career Development Award from the American Diabetes Association.