The World Health Organization predicts that over half of the global population will develop overweight or obesity by 2035. Despite treatment strategies like lifestyle changes, surgery, and medications, these methods are not universally available or effective. An international team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery – a genetic test that can predict adulthood obesity in early childhood.

By leveraging genetic data from over five million people, the researchers created a polygenic risk score (PGS) that identifies children at higher genetic risk of developing obesity. This finding could lead to targeted preventative strategies, such as lifestyle interventions, at a younger age.

“What makes this score so powerful is its ability to predict, before the age of five, whether a child is likely to develop obesity in adulthood,” says Assistant Professor Roelof Smit from the NNF Center for Basic Metabolic Research (CBMR) at the University of Copenhagen and lead author of the research published in Nature Medicine.

The study draws on data from the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium, an international collaboration of human genetics researchers. The research involved a partnership with 23andMe, inc., and contributions from over 600 scientists from 500 institutions globally.

Twice as effective at predicting obesity as the next best test, the new PGS combines the effects of thousands of genetic variants that increase our risk of obesity. These variants act in the brain and influence our appetite, making them a crucial factor in the development of adulthood obesity.

“This new polygenic score is a dramatic improvement in predictive power and a leap forward in the genetic prediction of obesity risk,” says Professor Ruth Loos from CBMR at the University of Copenhagen.

While genetics is not destiny, the researchers also investigated the relationship between a person’s genetic risk of obesity and the impact of lifestyle weight loss interventions. They found that people with a higher genetic risk of obesity were more responsive to interventions but also regained weight more quickly when the interventions ended.

However, the new PGS has its limitations – it was far better at predicting obesity in people with European-like ancestry than in people with African ancestry. Further research is needed to address these disparities and make this groundbreaking test universally useful.

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Unlocking the Power of Stevia: A Potential Cancer-Killing Agent

Stevia, a natural zero-calorie sugar substitute, has been found to possess more than just sweetness. Research conducted at Hiroshima University has revealed that stevia extract can kill pancreatic cancer cells when fermented with bacteria isolated from banana leaves. This groundbreaking study was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

The researchers, led by Narandalai Danshiitsoodol and Masanori Sugiyama, aimed to investigate the potential anticancer properties of stevia leaf extract. They discovered that fermenting stevia extract with a specific type of bacteria, Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T, enhanced its bioactivity and produced bioactive metabolites that can impact living organisms.

To conduct their study, the researchers isolated pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) and non-cancerous human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). They then compared the effects of fermented stevia extract with those of non-fermented stevia extract on these cell lines. The results showed that the fermented stevia extract demonstrated significantly greater cytotoxicity, or the ability to kill cancer cells.

The researchers identified chlorogenic acid methyl ester (CAME) as the active anti-cancer compound responsible for this enhanced bioactivity. When fermented, the concentration of chlorogenic acid in the extract dropped six-fold, indicating a microbial transformation that likely occurred due to specific enzymes in the bacteria strain used.

“Our findings indicate that the fermentation process enhances the bioactivity of stevia leaf extract and produces bioactive metabolites that exhibit stronger toxicity toward cancer cells,” said Danshiitsoodol. “This study has substantial implications for the development of new anticancer compounds and therapies.”

The researchers plan to conduct further studies in mouse models to better understand the effectiveness of various dosages across a whole-body system.

“This present study has substantially enhanced our understanding of the mechanism of action of Lactobacillus plantarum SN13T strain in fermentation, while also offering valuable research perspectives on the potential application of probiotics as natural anti-tumor agents,” said Danshiitsoodol.

The Pistachio Paradox: How Swapping Bedtime Snacks Can Rewire Your Gut and Help Prevent Diabetes

A third of people in the United States live with prediabetes, a condition that often progresses to Type 2 diabetes. While dietary interventions have shown promise, effective strategies remain limited. A recent study by researchers at Penn State has shed new light on how nighttime pistachio consumption can reshape the gut microbiome and potentially prevent diabetes.

Researchers led by Kristina Petersen, associate professor of nutritional sciences, found that replacing a traditional carbohydrate-based bedtime snack with pistachios can significantly alter the gut bacterial landscape in adults with prediabetes. The study, published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition, demonstrated that consuming about two ounces of pistachios each night for 12 weeks resulted in distinct stool microbial community profiles compared to those who consumed the recommended 15 to 30 grams of a carbohydrate snack.

Specifically, researchers observed increased abundance of “good” bacteria like Roseburia and members of the Lachnospiraceae family, which produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. Butyrate serves as a primary energy source for colon cells, helps maintain the gut barrier, and supports anti-inflammatory processes.

Pistachio consumption also led to reductions in bacterial groups linked to less favorable metabolic outcomes, such as Blautia hydrogenotrophica and Eubacterium flavonifractor. The study’s design, a randomized crossover clinical trial, allowed researchers to better understand how specific foods like pistachios can influence the gut microbiome.

While the study demonstrated shifts in gut bacteria, it remains unclear whether these changes directly translate to improvements in health. Researchers hope to explore this question further in future research.

This study has significant implications for people working to improve their metabolic health. By incorporating pistachios into one’s bedtime snack routine, individuals may be able to reshape their gut microbiome and potentially prevent the progression of prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes.

The study was funded by the American Pistachio Growers, Penn State’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, and additional support from Juniata College and the U.S. National Science Foundation.

At a time when federal funding cuts threaten research progress, studies like this one demonstrate the importance of continued investment in scientific inquiry that can improve the lives of people across the country and around the world.