Parasitic Worm Compound Could Be Your Future Metabolic Disorder Treatment
Tuesday, January 8, 2013 - 12:31
in Biology & Nature
It's not as fun as the Martini Diet but more scientific than the Tapeworm Diet. A new paper says that parasitic worm infections, a major cause of disease and disability throughout much of the developing world, might actually help treat metabolic disorders associated with obesity. A study in Nature Medicine shows that, once inside a host, many parasitic worms secrete a sugar-based anti-inflammatory molecule that might actually help treat metabolic disorders associated with obesity. The sugar molecule - glycan - is released by parasites to help them evade the body's immune system. By reducing inflammation, they are better able to hide in tissues, and humans experience fewer symptoms that might reveal their presence. read more