Could Fat Cells Help Keep You Healthy?
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Alexander Raths/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A new study indicates that some fat may help keep you healthy.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of California-San Diego and published in the journal Science, determined that cells that make fat in mice also serve to trigger an immune response. Specifically, researchers exposed laboratory mice to a staph infection, and found that those mice with a deficiency of fat-creating cells were more likely to become infected.
Mice with higher skin fat, on the other hand, were more likely to avoid infection.
Because the study was conducted on mice, the impact on humans is, as of yet, unclear. Researchers also note that excessive fat can cause insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, each of which can predispose humans to infection.
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