In January, the BBC reported on a finding published in Nature about the role of “uncoupled proteins” in preventing damage to cells.
When the human body breaks down food into a form that it can use, it produces oxygen molecules called free radicals as a byproduct. Free radicals can cause cell damage and are believed to be responsible for a variety age-related health problems, including cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
The study published in Nature and conducted by the UK’s Medical Research Council’s Dunn Human Nutrition Unit in Cambridge found that chemicals called uncoupling proteins could prevent free radicals from damaging cells. The uncoupled proteins shuffle the free radicals off to a part of the cell where they won’t do any damage.
The BBC quoted Dr. Martin Brand who described the impact that this finding could have on controlling the aging process,
The role of uncoupling proteins could be fundamental to protecting against degenerative disease and aging. We hope that by understanding their role, we could find potential new ways to prevent or treat free radical linked diseases. For example, we might be able to decrease cellular aging by using chemicals witch switch these proteins on.
Sure beats starving yourself almost to death, which to date is one of the few ways that researchers have managed to substantially extend life span in animal models.
Source:
Ageing cells give up secrets. The BBC, January 5, 2002.