Laboratories in Leipzig focusing on investigations into metabolic disorders
In a groundbreaking development, scientists at Leipzig University have unveiled a suite of state-of-the-art metabolic chambers, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the excellence strategy of the federal and state governments. These chambers, designed to accommodate a wide range of individuals including overweight individuals, children, adolescents, and elite athletes, are set to revolutionise the understanding and treatment of metabolic disorders.
The purpose of these metabolic chambers lies in their ability to provide accurate measurement of energy expenditure, fuel utilisation insights, and personalised health assessments. By measuring the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and the respiratory exchange ratio, the chambers offer a comprehensive understanding of an individual's metabolism, a key factor in the development of conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain cancers.
The functioning of these metabolic chambers is based on a controlled environment, where variables such as temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels are regulated to simulate resting or controlled activity states. Sophisticated sensors measure oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production, providing critical metrics for calculating metabolic rate and substrate (carbohydrate vs fat) utilisation.
The metabolic chambers, acquired approximately a year ago, are equipped with comforts such as sanitary facilities, an emergency button, and an intercom for contact with the outside world. Participants in the study have the ability to open the door at any time, ensuring their safety and comfort.
The research, conducted at the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Adiposity, and Vascular Research (HI-MAG), is being coordinated by Sarah Frenzel, the coordinator of the HI-MAG study outpatient clinic. The study involves an 18-day, individually tailored diet for the test persons, with the diet being adjusted to the results of the individual stays in the metabolic chambers.
The study aims to better understand the mechanisms linking diseased fat tissue with conditions like diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. By precisely measuring how muscles and organs use energy, researchers gain insight into disease mechanisms like insulin resistance or fatty acid oxidation impairments.
The funding for this research initiative does not guarantee excellence; the cluster was already of high-quality to receive it. The director of HI-MAG, Matthias Blüher, emphasised the need for the metabolic chambers for this research, stating that they are a vital tool for assessing detailed metabolic function in vivo, enabling researchers and clinicians to link metabolic abnormalities with major diseases and to tailor interventions accordingly.
This research is set to position Leipzig at the international forefront of metabolic research, offering hope for the advancement of understanding and treatment of metabolic disorders and their cardiovascular and oncological complications.
- The newly acquired metabolic chambers at the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolism, Adiposity, and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) are designed to uncover the mysteries of chronic diseases, particularly conditions like diabetes and certain cancers, as they aim to delve deeper into the connection between diseased fat tissue and these medical-conditions.
- The metabolic chambers, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), are instrumental in studying health-and-wellness topics, allowing researchers to accurately measure energy expenditure and substrate utilization (carbohydrate vs fat) in individuals with a variety of backgrounds, such as overweight individuals and elite athletes.
- In the pursuit of innovation in medical-conditions research, particularly chronic diseases like diabetes and heart attack, the state-of-the-art metabolic chambers at Leipzig University will shed light on the intricate relationship between nutrition and disease mechanisms, such as insulin resistance or fatty acid oxidation impairments.
