Parasitic worms ‘produce substance to help combat obesity’

Parasitic worms that infest the human body could be used to help treat metabolic disorders associated with obesity, a new study has found.

A team from the University of Georgia, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Universite Francois Rabelais and China's Central South University have carried out research into glycan, a sugar-based anti-inflammatory molecule secreted by parasites to reduce inflammation in the body, allowing them to hide themselves more successfully.

By feeding this substance to mice, it was found that glycan can help reduce insulin resistance, high triglycerides and high cholesterol among obesity sufferers, as well as potentially offering benefits in the treatment of psoriasis and multiple sclerosis.

This tallies with research showing that the prevalence of inflammation-based diseases is extremely low in countries where worm infections are common.

Study co-author Donald Harn of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine said: "All of the metabolic indicators associated with obesity were restored to normal by giving these mice this sugar conjugate. It won't prevent obesity, but it will help alleviate some of the problems caused by it."

This could be an effective new tool in combating the effects of obesity, a condition that affects just over one-quarter of adults in the UK.