Fruit chemical may prevent organ damage

Conclusion This exciting set of experiments has identified the metabolic driver of tissue injury seen when blood supply is returned after a period of ischaemia. The researchers have also shown this process can be limited by using an injection of dimethyl malonate in mice and rats. It is likely the same increased metabolic processes occur in humans, so there are wide implications for the future, including the potential use of dimethyl malonate injections to prevent tissue damage during surgery. At present it is unclear how this could be used practically during a heart attack or stroke, and this will be one of many issues that will be explored when human trials are initiated, along with the safety of this treatment. Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Join the Healthy Evidence forum. Links To The Headlines Could FRUIT help heart attack patients? Injection of chemical helps reduce damage to vital organs and boosts survival. Daily Mail, November 5 2014 Links To Science Chouchani ET, Pell VR, Gaude E, et al. Ischaemic accumulation of succinate controls reperfusion injury through mitochondrial ROS. Nature. Published online November 5 2014
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medical practice Medication Source Type: news