Researchers believe angiotensin 1-7, a hormone naturally produced by the body that has cardiovascular benefits, may also act to improve metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is associated with excess body fat in the midsection, high blood pressure, sugar and lipids levels. If untreated, it may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke or diabetes.
Israeli scientists tested the impact of angiotensin 1-7 on animals with symptoms similar to human metabolic syndrome and found that after one month of treatment body weight was not affected, but fasting insulin levels were significantly lower.
Moreover, angiotensin 1-7 also appeared to improve other manifestations of the metabolic syndrome by decreasing triglycerides and blood sugar levels.
The studys lead author, Yonit Marcus, a PhD candidate at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, says the results offer hope for a potential new treatment of the disorder.
High blood sugar can be controlled or prevented through a diet rich in fish and fresh vegetables and low in processed foods and sweets. Obesity and high blood pressure, on the other hand, may be effectively remedied with exercise or other forms of physical activity. 