Science Weekly - 04052020

There is a considerable difference between the amount of research gets published since this whole COVID-19 crisis put most of the world in lockdown, but there are still a few coming out every week, and this week we have one that links a particular nutrient deficiency to the recovery rate from COVID.

The highlights:

• ​​People with brown fat may burn 15% more calories
• ​Salt substitution could prevent almost half a million deaths from CVD in China
• ​Childhood obesity and high blood pressure warn of future heart disease
• ​​Link identified between dietary selenium and outcome of COVID-19 disease
• ​Brain insulin sensitivity determines body weight and fat distribution
• Reduced obesity for weighted-vest wearers

People with brown fat may burn 15% more calories

New data highlights how cold exposure activates brown fat, energy metabolism
​Short-term cold exposure may help people with brown fat burn 15% more calories than those without, according to a small study.

Source: The Endocrine Society

Salt substitution could prevent almost half a million deaths from CVD in China

A nationwide intervention to replace regular household salt with potassium-enriched salt substitutes in China could prevent nearly half a million cardiovascular deaths per year, according to a new modelling study.

Source: George Institute for Global Health

Childhood obesity and high blood pressure warn of future heart disease

A large study in adolescents and children, some as young as 3 years of age, shows a link between obesity, high blood pressure, and later damage to blood vessels.

Source: European Society of Cardiology

​Link identified between dietary selenium and outcome of COVID-19 disease

Researchers have identified a link between the COVID-19 cure rate and regional selenium status in China.

Source: University of Surrey

Brain insulin sensitivity determines body weight and fat distribution

Just where fat is deposited in the body and to what degree a person may benefit from a lifestyle intervention depends on how sensitive the brain is to insulin. If the person's brain responds sensitively to the hormone, a significant amount of weight can be lost and unhealthy visceral fat. People with brain insulin resistance only showed a slight weight loss. These are the results of a long-term study.

Source: Deutsches Zentrum fuer Diabetesforschung DZD

Reduced obesity for weighted-vest wearers

Scientists have found a new method of reducing human body weight and fat mass using weighted vests. The new study indicates that there is something comparable to built-in bathroom scales that contributes to keeping our body weight and, by the same token, fat mass constant.

Source: University of Gothenburg