Recent research published in the Journal of Physiology:
Endocrinology and Metabolism has found that smoking cigarettes can actually
lead to weight gain, with similar effects being experienced by those exposed to
second hand smoke. At least half of the U.S. population is exposed to second
hand smoke at least once a day, and about 20% of young children live in a home
where someone regularly smokes cigarettes (1).
The researchers wanted to better understand the mechanism
behind how smokers become insulin resistant. They exposed lab mice to second
hand smoke, then tracked their metabolic progression, and ultimately found that
mice exposed to second hand smoke gained weight.
At the cellular level, they
determined that this weight gain was specifically due a molecule called
ceramide. Ceramide normally functions as a lipid second messenger that slows anabolism and promotes
catabolism (2). However, this lipid is activated differently by
cigarette smoke and alters the mitochondria, which disrupts normal cell function
and inhibits insulin response. Once someone becomes insulin resistant, their
body needs to create more insulin, and more insulin means that more fat is made
in the body (1).
The researchers then gave myriocin (a known ceramide
blocker) to the mice that were exposed to second hand smoke, and found that the
mice treated with myriocin did not gain additional weight, nor did they
experience any additional negative metabolic disturbances. Therefore, by
inhibiting ceramide, the researchers were essentially able to cancel the
harmful effects of second hand smoke metabolically.
As a result of this research, research teams across the
world are now racing to become the first to find a ceramide inhibitor that is
safe for human consumption. If/when this
safe ceramide inhibitor is found, it could be administered to people who come
in contact with high amounts of second hand smoke, essentially eliminating the
harmful metabolic effects of second hand smoke.
References:
1. BYU Study:
Exposure to cigarette smoke can cause weight gain. Medical News. http://www.news-medical.net/news/20141105/BYU-study-Exposure-to-cigarette-smoke-can-cause-weight-gain.aspx
2. The ACOS Lipid
Library. Ceramides. http://lipidlibrary.aocs.org/Lipids/ceramide/index.htm
This is interesting, Paul. I have not heard that cigarettes are linked to weight gain. I have more frequently hear about individuals who smoke losing weight instead. In particular, I am interested in the effects of second-hand smoke. While it is great that there is research that might be able to alleviate the harmful effects of second-hand smoke for non-smokers, it's also crazy to think about taking something in response to the actions of others. I am curious if there is anything about how much smoke to which one must be exposed in order to warrant taking a ceramide inhibitor. I tend to be of the opinion that medications should not be taken unless needed, so how would one know if it would be a good idea to take this type of medication? Naturally, people who live with a smoker would be candidates, but what about people who live in cities and are exposed to the second-hand smoke of strangers on a regular basis? It's interesting, but I also wonder about gauging when the benefits outweigh the risks.
ReplyDeleteI too found this article to be really interesting, as I had always heard of individuals smoking to lose weight or keep weight off versus the opposite. Additionally, I thought that it was intriguing that they found a correlation to second-hand smoke and insulin resistance. We think we all know the dangers behind second-hand smoke, and then an article like this is published that expands the depths of the dangers. I'm curious to see if and how long an actual human comparable creamed inhibitor is found and what potential side effects may arise by combatting these mechanisms.
ReplyDeleteLooks like I am not the only one who has heard cigarette smoking leads to weight loss instead of weight gain. It was always my understanding that nicotine is a stimulant that increases a person's metabolism. I would be curious to know not only about people who are exposed to second hand smoke from others on a regular basis but also what about people that live in a metropolitan area where they breathe in other types of carcinogens, would that have the same affect that second hand smoke does?
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