A recent study by researchers at Japan's Shinshu University, published in the journal Food Bioscience, revealed that the natural compound "pterostilbene," found in blueberries and grapes, may help muscle cells burn excess fat rather than store it, opening new avenues for supporting metabolic health and combating modern-day diseases.
اضافة اعلان
The research focuses on addressing the problem of fat accumulation within skeletal muscle, which results from high-fat diets, physical inactivity, and aging.
This accumulated fat impairs muscle function and reduces the body's ability to consume glucose and fatty acids, contributing to increased insulin resistance.
Experiments conducted on mouse muscle cells showed that pterostilbene had the strongest effect in reducing abnormal fat accumulation, without negatively affecting normal muscle growth.
Researchers, led by Associate Professor Takakazu Mitani, explained that the compound doesn't block fatty acids from entering cells, but instead stimulates the breakdown of stored fat and its use for energy production.
Unlike traditional compounds, pterostilbene works through a unique mechanism, protecting a key protein receptor known as PPARδ, which plays a role in regulating fat oxidation, from degradation. By stabilizing this protein and increasing its levels within cells, the activity of genes responsible for metabolism is boosted.
Although the findings are currently limited to laboratory experiments and have not yet been proven in humans, they represent a promising foundation for developing functional foods and dietary supplements aimed at supporting muscle health and reducing obesity and type 2 diabetes in older adults.
