Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

Could vitamin D in midlife protect your brain from early Alzheimer’s?

Higher serum vitamin D in midlife is associated with reduced tau burden in the brain, highlighting its potential role in early dementia risk assessment.

7 Apr 2026

Challenging processed meat risks for dry-cured ham consumption

The effects of dry-cured ham on cardiometabolic health are nuanced, with evidence suggesting it may not adversely affect key health markers in moderation.

7 Apr 2026

Prickly pear may pack a surprising punch against metabolic syndrome

This narrative review examines how Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, or prickly pear, may help target multiple features of metabolic syndrome through its fiber, betalains, polyphenols, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. The authors conclude that the fruit shows promising mechanistic and preclinical potential, but stronger human trials are still needed before firm clinical claims can be made.

6 Apr 2026

Metformin mimics exercise-related metabolic effects in prostate cancer patients

A new study has found that metformin, a widely prescribed diabetes drug, may mimic one of exercise's core biological effects in men with prostate cancer, raising levels of a molecule tied to energy balance and weight control even when patients are inactive.

6 Apr 2026

Metabolic pathways drive progression from pancreatic lesions to cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common type of pancreatic cancer and has a low five-year survival rate.

3 Apr 2026

Stard7 plays unexpected role in intestinal cancer development

A new study led by researchers at the University of Liège highlights the unexpected role of Stard7 in the development of intestinal cancers.

2 Apr 2026

Boosting mitochondrial function in dendritic cells can improve cancer immunotherapy

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered how tumors disable immune "gatekeeper" cells that alert the rest of the immune system to the presence of cancer - and how restoring their energy production can improve immunotherapy. Dendritic cells activate the cytotoxic immune cells that destroy cancer.

2 Apr 2026

Regulatory T cells may influence inflammation and behavior in autism

Two new studies from the UC Davis MIND Institute examined regulatory T cells (Tregs) and their potential role in neuroinflammation and behavioral changes associated with autism.

2 Apr 2026

Moderate wine intake tied to slower biological aging in men

Researchers studying 22,495 adults in Southern Italy found that men with moderate wine intake in the traditional Mediterranean diet range showed slightly slower biomarker-based biological aging, with the lowest estimated aging signal at about 170 mL per day. The study also found that overall ethanol intake did not show the same moderate-level pattern, and higher total alcohol intake was linked to faster biological aging in dose-response analyses.

2 Apr 2026

New obesity definition may delay treatment and complicate diagnosis

Redefining obesity based not only on body mass index (BMI) but on whether excess body fat is causing measurable health problems may complicate diagnosis and delay treatment, according to an Endocrine Society guideline communication published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

2 Apr 2026

Where digital holographic microscopy complements fluorescence microscopy

Integrating Digital Holographic Microscopy with fluorescence techniques enhances live-cell imaging, preserving cellular integrity and improving assay accuracy.

From Park Systems 2 Apr 2026

Celiac disease weakens gut microbes that digest fiber

Findings suggest that impaired fiber metabolism in celiac disease is due to microbial deficits, not just diet, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.

2 Apr 2026

Pesticide exposure linked to higher cancer risk in new study

A new scientific study, published in Nature Health, reveals a strong link between exposure to agricultural pesticides in the environment and the risk of developing cancer.

1 Apr 2026

Molecular switch in neurons found to limit the regrowth of damaged axonal fibers

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a molecular switch in neurons that limits the regrowth of damaged axonal fibers.

1 Apr 2026

Gut microbiome changes improve memory in early cognitive decline

Research shows that modifying the gut microbiome can enhance cognitive performance and mitigate dementia risk, highlighting the gut-brain connection.

1 Apr 2026

Fiber supplement stabilizes blood sugar in gestational diabetes

Dietary fiber supplementation shows potential in managing blood sugar levels and preventing preterm births in pregnancies at risk for gestational diabetes.

1 Apr 2026

Gut bacteria determine fiber benefits in celiac disease patients

Many people with celiac disease are advised to eat more fiber to support digestion and manage symptoms, either through diet or prescribed fiber supplements.

31 Mar 2026

How the nutrient cysteine controls cancer-fighting power of T cells

A research team from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered how the immune system's CD8+ T cells use the nutrient cysteine to control two essential functions that compete for this resource - the immune cell's ability to multiply and its ability to kill cancer cells.

31 Mar 2026

Testosterone level is not always the key to male wellbeing

The connection between testosterone and well-being is weaker than many people think. Although there are clear health connections, a higher testosterone level is not always the key to well-being, according to a thesis at the University of Gothenburg.

31 Mar 2026

Impaired lipid transport protein locks stressed cells into cellular limbo

When cells experience enough chronic stress, they can stop dividing permanently. In this state of cellular limbo, known as replicative senescence, cells remain alive but no longer proliferate.

31 Mar 2026