Wageningen UniversityThis news seems to focus on how heart protects itself from foreign invasions. A study from Wageningen University claims that when a person consumes a fatty meal, a particular mechanism is said to be triggered in the heart, which may avert risky substances from being piled up in the heart muscle.

It is believed that this defence mechanism may be less than effectual in people with an elevated percentage of body fat. The study appears to offer significant details about the fat balance in the heart. The heart muscle utilizes fat as a fuel to facilitate it to pump the blood around the body. But excess fat could be harmful as it seems to cause unsafe and potentially damaging substances like oxy radicals to be generated as a by-product of combustion. Impairment to the heart muscle can apparently cause all types of problems, counting fatigue and tightness in the chest.

Even though our heart can manage with the odd fatty snack, consuming excess fat on a continuing basis may compromise this valuable defence mechanism. Nutrition is not claimed to be the only significant issue, the quantity of body fat may also play a vital function.

Sander Kersten, Associate professor of nutrition, metabolism and genomics at Wageningen University and colleagues found that if mice consume a piece of fat, a particular protein i.e. Angptl4 is supposedly triggered in the heart muscle. This protein may shield the heart from injurious particles that could be derived from unwanted fat.

Kersten commented, “It’s like a barrier that can open and close. The fat from the first couple of mouthfuls closes the barrier to the damaging effects of the fat that is on its way.”

Kersten mentioned, “Now we know that fat tissue produces substances that affect the defence mechanism in the heart muscle, we are faced with the following question: what is the impact of too much body fat on the fat balance in the heart?”

Currently, it seems to be hard to identify the accurate BMI at which the heart muscle becomes compromised.

Kersten remarked, “This is not an easy matter. Up until recently, it was impossible to measure the amount of fat in the hearts of living people.”

Kersten added that new advanced technology, such as proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, is making this easier and will provide a wealth of fresh information.

The study was published in the American Journal Circulation Research.