Abstract
A high-fat diet often leads to metabolic disorders such as diabetes, fatty liver disease and obesity. One lipid, however, might mitigate these effects through an unexpected signalling role in the nucleus. See Letter p.506 Excess liver fat, or steatosis, is an important risk factor for obesity-associated diabetes. A natural product, dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC), has now been identified as a possible antisteatosis agent, with therapeutic potential in pre-diabetic people. DLPC activates the orphan nuclear receptor LRH-1, loss of which decreases bile acid levels. Elevated bile acid is known to decrease steatosis. Acting as an LHR-1 agonist, DLPC decreases hepatic steatosis and improves glucose homeostasis in mouse models of insulin resistance.
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