A new study has found that placing a non-permeable tube in the small intestine leads to reduced nutrient absorption, which in turn can help reduce obesity and enhance glucose metabolism.
An international team of scientists led by Dr. Kirk Habegger, Metabolic Disease Institute, University of Cincinnati, and Prof. Dr. Matthias Tschop, Scientific Director of the Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC) at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (HMGU), have developed an efficient and less invasive surgical method, thus paving the way for the development of novel safe and efficient anti-obesity therapies.
In their study, a flexible tube, called a DES (duodenal-endoluminal sleeve), was placed in the small intestine. The researchers observed that this intervention in an animal model potently corrects obesity while improving glucose metabolism.
The metabolic benefits of this novel surgical intervention seem to be mediated via reduced nutrient absorption in the intestinal lumen and reactive mucous membrane growth in the other intestinal sections, a shift which may lead to improved nutrient utilization. The intervention carries the great advantage that it is less invasive and removable at any time.
The method is consequently seen as a promising approach to treat obesity and diabetes.
The study is published in the British medical journal ‘Gut’. (ANI)