The 'key' has been found to help reduce natural fat

What will you think of first when it comes to copper? It is a metal of ancient civilizations, once popular for making tools, jewelry weapons and coinage. In the modern world, copper with excellent ductility and conductivity has prevailed in the electrical and electronics industry. Today, you can see copper anywhere around you.

However, not only that, in the past 10 years, scientists have paid special attention to what this metal is doing right inside our bodies. The role of copper in biological functions is increasingly concerned.

For the past 10 years, scientists have paid special attention to the biological role of copper.

We already know that copper is an essential element that helps form red blood cells, absorb iron, develop connective tissue and the immune system. Most recently, for the first time, a study conducted by Berkeley Lab, USA showed that this metal is also playing an important role in fat metabolism.

Preparatory research is published in the July issue of Nature Chemical Biology.

The team of scientists, led by Professor Chris Chang from the University of California Berkeley, has discovered that copper is the essential factor to break down fat , so that our bodies can use it. as an energy source.

"Copper works like a regulator. The more copper there is, the more fat will be resolved . We think it will be worth studying how the deficiency of this element is related to fat. Obesity and related diseases, " said Professor Chang.

What are copper atoms doing in the body?

Professor Chris Chang (back) from California Berkeley University.

In their study, scientists used mice to genetically alter the accumulation of copper inside their liver. They found a link between copper and fat when these mice had greater fat accumulation than normal.

In humans, this is similar to Wilson's disease , when someone experiences copper metabolism disorders , they can die if not treated promptly.

Analysis of mice with Wilson's disease showed abnormal accumulation of copper accompanied by lower levels of fat in the liver, compared to other normal mice. But on the outside, scientists found that the white fat tissue of Wilson mice had lower copper concentrations, corresponding to a higher level of fat accumulation.

The next step, scientists aim to test their ability to degrade fat. The mice were tested with isoproterenol, a beta agonist that causes fat degradation into fatty acids, via intracellular signaling pathways with a "cyclic adenosine monophosphate" (cAMP) derivative.

The results showed that Wilson mice were indeed shown to be less capable of degrading fat than normal mice.

The picture shows the difference between white fat cells with copper and copper.

Looking further into this process, the researchers conducted cell culture to clearly analyze the effect of copper on fat digestion. They measured the amount of copper in adipose tissue of mice and found that copper is being attached to an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) , which PDE3 is associated with cAMP derivatives.

CAMP derivatives may inhibit fat degradation. When copper binds to phosphodiesterase, it inhibits the effects of cAMP."It's like a brake to brake another brake. That's why, in the end, copper has a positive correlation with fat resolution , " said Professor Chang.

In fact, the relationship between copper and fat metabolism has been conjectured before. Scientists have observed a phenomenon in livestock."This has been documented in cattle, when copper levels in food affect their fat in meat , " said Professor Chang.

However, his research and his colleagues marked the first time we could show a clear binding of copper, in the biochemical mechanism for fat. This milestone was recorded when the study will be available in the July issue of Nature Chemical Biology.

Eating copper will help reduce natural fat?

In prehistoric times, the discovery of copper set a milestone for civilization. Perhaps in the 21st century, it may help us to solve the civilization's problematic obesity.

Through findings from the study, Professor Chang said that copper has the potential to be an important nutrient in restoring human fat burning ability. This metal is present in large quantities in foods such as oysters, oysters, snails, green vegetables, mushrooms, nuts and beans.

Foods contain many copper.

According to the American Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Committee, an average adult will need about 700mcg of copper a day.

"Copper is not a substance that our bodies can synthesize themselves. So we need to recharge it through the eating process , " said Professor Chang. The American diet seems to contain less copper than the Asian diet. Perhaps it is also a cause behind the overweight and obesity situation in this country.

However, Professor Chang warns you not to use research results for buying and drinking more copper-containing functional foods. Too much copper can lead to an imbalance with other essential minerals of the body, such as zinc.