A team of researchers has discovered the reason why some obese people develop chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and others do not....

      Researchers found that fat cells released biomarkers associated with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, conditions often leading to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

      Ishwarlal Jialal, UC Davis Professor of Endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism and senior author of the article states, "Our study shows that not all obesity is the same and some body fat may actually be toxic."

      The study shows that circulating biomarkers of inflammation and insulin resistance, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), IL-6, IL-1β, leptin, serum amyloid A, and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) concentrations were significantly higher in the subjects with metabolic syndrome than controls.Researchers need to address the dysfunction of fat cells, using existing or novel drug therapies to block the production of these damaging biomarkers.

      "Once people have cardiovascular disease or diabetes, it's too late and far more expensive given the complications that ensue. Metabolic syndrome is the antecedent. This is where we need to intervene," said Jialal.

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