They manage to convert harmful fats in the body into omega-3.

A new gene therapy technique could revolutionize the treatment of obesity and get rid of unhealthy fats. The scientists who developed it say it can convert body fat, harmful omega-6 fatty acids, into beneficial omega-3 acids. The technique, according to its creators Dr Farshid Gilak and Dr Ruhang Tang, researchers at Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis, Missouri, US, could help children struggling with obesity reduce the risk of other health problems, especially arthritis.

In Spain, 39% of girls and 38% of boys aged 7 to 9 years are overweight or obese, according to the European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative. Research shows that this situation can have a significant impact on various health conditions, including arthritis, heart disease and other metabolic problems. Consequently, pediatric institutions recommend accelerating the development of early treatments for obesity.

“We know that the main preventable risk factor for arthritis in children is being overweight. Our typical reaction is to tell our kids to lose weight.

without solving the problem as a whole,” says Dr. Gilak, the hospital’s director of research. “Childhood obesity has become an epidemic, and as a result arthritis is becoming more common in children,” he continues.

“One of our main conclusions is that it is not only obesity itself that is harmful, but also diet. The types of fatty acids children consume play an important role. in their weight gain. And once children become obese, the door opens for other serious health problems that are difficult to correct,” says the specialist.

Omega 6 to Omega 3, good for weight loss

For the past four years, scientists at this children’s hospital have been working to develop a new way to prevent the effects of childhood obesity. As a result, they have created a new gene therapy that can revolutionize weight loss methods and obesity prevention convert omega-6 fats into omega-3. Their results are reflected in a study published in a prestigious scientific journal. PNAS.

In it, Dr Tan explains that his gene therapy method involves using an inactivated virus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), to introduce the gene for a specific enzyme into cells. This automatically converts highly inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids into Omega-3 fatty acids, which are better for metabolism body. (If you want to learn more about the benefits of omega-3, click this link).

Health Benefits of Omega-3

Dr. Gilak points out that acids Omega-6s, which come from fatty foods and vegetable oils, such as those found in fried foods.tend to promote inflammation and can lead to health problems such as arthritis, heart disease and metabolic problems.

Omega-3s, present in fish and some nuts, are beneficial for maintaining a lean body as they promote a healthier metabolic profile. It’s because Omega-3 improves insulin sensitivity and promotes fat metabolism. and reduces inflammation as well as the risk of obesity-related diseases.

Dr Natalia Harasimovich, co-principal investigator of the study, said the new gene therapy could also reduce the number of pro-inflammatory cells, which are critical for promoting inflammation and obesity-related arthritis. In this study, the researchers looked at a very common type of arthritis in children called “post-traumatic arthritis,” caused by knee injuries such as tears in the meniscus tissue, which serves as a stabilizer and shock absorber in the knee. .

Fats cause aging of the knees. Omega-3 and longevity

The team found that injecting gene therapy significantly reduced the health effects of a diet rich in fat and omega-6. general metabolic and knee arthritis. Particularly interesting was the discovery that diet-induced obesity causes premature “aging” in these mice, which was prevented by gene therapy.

“We are seeing that obesity leads to aging knees in young patients,” says Dr. Gilak. “The modern diet, especially in the United States, tends to be high in omega-6 and low in omega-3, which can cause imbalances, especially in children. The gene therapy we have developed automatically converts omega-6 fatty acids into omega-3 fatty acids in the body, thereby turning bad fats into good fats,” he concludes.

“Arthritis can be a very painful and debilitating disease for children, so we hope this research will help reduce the risk of developing it and make treatment more effective. The significance of these studies for the future is enormous, but We are excited about the potential that this will help children lead healthier lives.“, Gilak concludes. His team is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin human clinical trials in the next 3 to 5 years.