Omentin is a recently discovered small protein. This protein is found…
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in fat cells around the heart and other organs,
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in the small intestine,
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in cells lining the heart and other organs,
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in blood vessel cells
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in some cells of the airways,
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in the colon,
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in the ovaries and
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blood.
The molecule is anti-inflammatory, and variable levels have been found in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes…
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Omentin levels rise when the body attempts to correct type 2 diabetes and its associated heart and vascular complications.
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studies have also revealed that low levels of the molecule are present in obese individuals.
In January 2019, the magazine Diabetes research and clinical practice reported on a study conducted at Osaka City University in Osaka, Japan. Researchers there compared…
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425 people who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with
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223 non-diabetic study participants.
In those at high risk of serious complications…
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those 65 years of age or older,
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those with heart and blood diseases, and
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those with reduced kidney function,
Low omentin levels were associated with reduced dilation of blood vessels in response to increased blood flow. From these results, the researchers concluded that omentin plays a protective role in people with type 2 diabetes at risk of cardiac and vascular complications.
A study published in December 2018 in the journal Clinical Nutrition shows that adherence to the low-calorie Mediterranean diet could be helpful in raising omentin levels. Researchers at the University of Valladolid in Valladolid, Spain, prescribed the diet to 67 obese participants with an average age of 48 years for three months.
At the end of the study, omentin levels increased, while decreases were observed in the following…
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body mass index (BMI),
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body weight,
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body fat,
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waist measurements,
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blood pressure,
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blood sugar level,
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insulin – because not so much was needed,
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insulin resistance, the cause of type 2 diabetes, and
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LDL cholesterol – “bad” cholesterol.
The main foods included in the Mediterranean diet are…
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vegetables: Greeks typically eat nine servings a day of fruits and vegetables,
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Fruit,
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whole grains – bread, pasta and rice,
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vegetables – beans,
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nuts – pistachios, walnuts and almonds contain healthy fats, but eat them in moderation due to their high caloric content,
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healthy fats like olive and canola oils instead of butter. Bread is eaten dipped in liquid vegetable oil instead of butter,
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red wine in moderation – optional, and
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herbs and spices instead of salt: parsley, saffron, thyme, basil, rosemary, oregano, and sage.