Nature Metabolism: Poor diet damages our blood vessels

The team found that metabolic diseases affect the blood vessels
of different organs of the body in unique ways.
For example, blood vessels in the liver and adipose tissue have difficulty processing excess lipids, renal blood vessels produce metabolic dysfunction, pulmonary blood vessels become highly inflamed, and intervascular transport in the brain is defective
.
Dr.
Olga Bondareva, first author of the study, explains: "Since vascular dysfunction causes all major pathologies, from heart failure to atherosclerosis and neurodegeneration, our study shows how poor eating habits can molecularly contribute to the development of
various diseases.
"

Professor Matthias, Director of HI-MAG, added: "We want to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of obesity so that we can offer tailored treatments
to patients in the future.
" The spokesperson of the 1052 Collaborative Research Centre for the Mechanisms of Obesity has been conducting research
on morbid obesity at the University of Leipzig for many years.
The current study also includes scientists
from the fields of cardiology and laboratory medicine from Leipzig.

The researchers then asked whether a healthy diet could reduce the pathogenic molecular signature
caused by a poor diet.
Their findings suggest that a healthy diet can indeed improve the molecular health of blood vessels, albeit only partially
.
For example, the blood vessels of the liver recover almost completely, but the blood vessels of the kidneys retain the characteristics of the disease, despite a healthy diet and significant weight loss
.
This means that some of our blood vessels produce "memories" of metabolic diseases, which are difficult to reverse
.

Studying the mechanisms and treatment of obesity has been the focus
of research at the University of Leipzig for many years.
There are various areas of research dedicated to the prevention and treatment of this disease
.
Obesity research in Leipzig covers a wide range of topics, including genetic associations, metabolic disorders, mechanisms of fat accumulation, the role of the brain in diet, and therapeutic interventions
for weight loss and weight retention.

The Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Obesity and Vascularity (HI-MAG) is a joint institution
of the University of Munich Hermholtz with the University Medical School of Leipzig and the University Hospital Leipzig.
The institute studies the molecular basis of morbid obesity to enable the precise treatment
of obesity and its secondary diseases through clinical and translational research approaches.