A research finding from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri on a protein called CD36, which show that it is found only in the proximal segment and not the distal segment of the intestine, is believed to be key information for future basis of weight loss treatments.

The research involved studying CD36 protein, a membrane protein identified in past studies to be found in cell surfaces of the lumen of the digestive tract, fat cells, heart and skeletal muscle tissue. This protein has been shown to be of importance in facilitating fatty acid absorption. However, past research involving normal mice versus genetically altered mice without CD36 protein showed no significant difference in intestinal fat absorption.

But recent findings by the research team led by Dr. Nada A. Abumrad may now explain previous results. They discovered that absence of the CD36 protein, which is located only in the proximal (upper) intestine, causes the distal (lower) intestine to adapt and absorb fat as well, but using a different mechanism. This explains why the previous study showed no difference in fat absorption in mice with and without CD36 protein expression.

The mechanism in the distal intestine was found to be less efficient in absorption. Instead of being packaged into chylomicrons, which easily facilitate transport and absorption of fats into the different cells of the body, lipids that enter in the distal portion of the intestine are released as parts of smaller particles that are not as readily absorbed by other cells.

Aside from the less efficient fat absorption, it is believed that if absorption via CD6 protein is blocked in the proximal intestine, the delay in absorption as the fat goes down the distal portion will also produce a feeling of satiety or fullness and less inclination to eat more fatty foods. Further studies will have to be performed regarding its effect on humans especially since CD6 protein is not limited to the digestive tract and blocking it for weight loss treatments would have to be specific to the intestine.

via WUSTL and Science Daily

[image by Vik Nanda]

Tags: CD36, protein, weight loss, intestine