Study Shows Metabolic Benefits of Birch Bark
Lee Swanson Research Update
The study, published in Cell Metabolism, reported that the birch bark compound lowered cholesterol, helped prevent diet-induced obesity and improved insulin sensitivity in lab mice. Betulin-treated mice in the study were also seen to be more resistant to developing atherosclerotic plaques in their arteries.
The researchers said that betulin acts by targeting sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs)—a transcription factor that is known to be important in the expression of genes involved in the production of cholesterol, fatty acids and triglycerides.
"Our study shows that the SREBP pathway is a good target for several metabolic diseases," said Bao-Liang Song of the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, China. "We also identify a leading compound."
In the study, Song and his colleagues went in search of a compound that might act directly on SREBP. That chemical screen turned up betulin as a top contender. They then confirmed in cells that betulin lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched "on" by SREBP, in addition to lowering lipid levels within cells.
Song’s team treated mice on a high-fat, Western diet with betulin or a placebo for six weeks. Compared to placebo, betulin led the mice to gain less weight on the high-fat diet as it appeared to burn more calories.
Further investigations showed that betulin also lowered lipid levels in blood, liver and fat tissue. Betulin also made the animals more sensitive to insulin. Mice with a mutation that makes them prone to develop atherosclerosis showed fewer plaques when treated with betulin.
Cell Metabolism 13(1):44-56, 2011
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April 2011