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Researchers at the University of Georgia have found that an ingredient commonly found in our morning coffee could potentially prevent the detrimental effects of obesity.

A recent paper published in Pharmaceutical Research, reports a study in which scientists discovered that chlorogenic acid, or CGA, reduced insulin resistance and fat buildup in the livers of mice.

Obesity rates in the United States have more than doubled since the 1970’s. According to to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one third of adults and approximately 17% of children are obese. To put that into perspective, that’s 78.6 million adults and 12.7 million children living with obesity in the US. Although recent statistics suggest that obesity rates have plateaued, it is still a leading public health problem in this country.

The two most common side affects of obesity are insulin resistance and a buildup of fat within the liver. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the insulin produced by the body is not used properly. During digestion, muscle, fat and liver cells are unable to absorb glucose from the bloodstream, which therefore causes an excess accumulation of glucose. Most people with insulin resistance will suffer for many years, unaware of their condition. Over time, these disorders can lead to prediabetes, diabetes, and poor liver function, if left untreated.

The study consisted of a 15 week trial in which the mice were fed a strict, high-fat diet and injected twice-weekly doses of a CGA solution. After observing the trial, the researchers concluded that chlorogenic acid was effective in preventing weight gain, as well as managing normal blood sugar levels and a healthy liver.

“CGA is a powerful antioxidant that reduces inflammation,” said Yongjie Ma, postdoctoral research associate of UGA’s College of Pharmacy and lead author of the paper. “A lot of evidence suggests that obesity-related diseases are caused by chronic inflammation, so if we can control that, we can hopefully offset some of the negative effects of excessive weight gain.”

Previous studies have shown that the consumption of coffee could lower the risk of these obesity-related disorders. And if you’re not a coffee drinker, have no fear. You can still get your CGA fix from a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, tomatoes and blueberries.

The authors of the study do denote, however, that CGA is not an absolute cure to obesity and its damaging effects. Although the study showed significant results in the mice’s health, they received doses of CGA that were much higher, compared to a typical consumption found in a cup of coffee. The best ways to avoid the risks associated with obesity are a healthy diet and regular exercise.

“We’re not suggesting that people start drinking a lot of coffee to protect themselves from an unhealthy lifestyle,” said Ma. “But we do think that we might be able to create a useful therapeutic using CGA that will help those at risk for obesity-related disease as they make positive lifestyle changes.”

The authors plan to conduct more research and improve their CGA solution for safe, human consumption.

References:

University of Georgia. “Chemical in coffee may help prevent obesity-related disease.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 November 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141114124907.htm>.

Yongjie Ma, Mingming Gao, Dexi Liu. Chlorogenic Acid Improves High Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance in Mice. Pharmaceutical Research, 2014; DOI: 10.1007/s11095-014-1526-9

CDC. “Adult Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 09 Sept. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html>.

FRAC. “Overweight and Obesity in the U.S.” Food Research Action Center. Food Research Action Center, 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. <http://frac.org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/obesity-in-the-us/>.

NIDDK. “Insulin Resistance and Prediabetes.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health, 10 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014. <http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/insulinresistance/>.