Spanish scientists have discovered that the amount of mitochondrial DNA , inherited directly from the mother, influences the ease with which an individual burns excess energy consumed.
Mitochondrial DNA is located in the mitochondria, which act as the powerhouse of cells. Scientists have shown that its variability between individuals depends not only on the sequence, but also on the quantity. And what is more interesting, as Francesc Villarroya and his colleagues from the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona have been able to verify, the amount of mitochondrial DNA may be related to obesity and type 2 diabetes , linked to a sedentary lifestyle . In fact, increasing mitochondrial DNA increases the uptake of glucose that enters cells, where it is oxidized.
The study, which makes the cover of the journal Obesity , opens a new avenue of research to develop genetic therapies that promote better oxidation of ingested calories. These therapies could be done through drugs, nutritional strategies, or vitamin compounds.
