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Sesamin

When dieting to lose fat, it is relatively easy to lose those first 5-10 pounds of fat. After this initial stage of fat loss, the body makes it harder to lose more fat and easier to put fat back on by reducing the concentration of "fat-burning" enzymes and up-regulating "fat storage" enzymes. These changes in enzyme activity play a major role in setting fat loss and lower progress as known from dieters. The body wants to function at a certain body fat level, also known as the body's "set point". The body functions optimally at the target level in terms of body fat and therefore tries to keep its fat storage at this target level. In an attempt to circumvent the body's desire to keep it at the fat storage set point, dieters often turn to weight loss supplements such as thermogenics. The problem with most of these supplements is that they do nothing to stop the body's desire to curb fat loss, but are merely a means to increase metabolism again for a short period of time. While such a supplement may help you lose a little more fat, these are only short-term solutions for dieters. Thermogenics such as ephedrine help to lose fat by triggering fat cells to release fatty acids. The body has a fixed capacity for fat loss and if the enzyme activity has been shifted to drive fat storage via fat oxidation, then releasing fatty acids from fat cells will be of little benefit as they cannot be oxidized. To successfully lose fat, you need to create a stimulus that encourages the body to burn more fat and stop storing/attempting to store fat. Sesamin, a lignan found in sesame seeds does just that - prompt the body to oxidize more fat and thus increase its capacity while decreasing fat storage.

Sesamin & Peroxisome Proliferator Activator Receptors (PPAR)

Sesamin is a lignan isolated from sesame seeds. A lignan is a molecule that binds to another entity that acts as an "activator". In the case of sesamin, it binds to and also activates a receptor called peroxisome proliferator activator receptor alpha (PPARalpha).

The PPAR family is divided into three subgroups:

  • Alpha
  • delta
  • gamma

Peroxisome proliferator activator receptor alpha

PPARalpha is primarily found in muscle, liver, kidney and heart and is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism, specifically in the transcription of genes involved in beta-oxidation (burning) of fatty acids and lipogenesis. Activation of PPARalpha increases the gene expression of fatty acid oxidation enzymes and decreases the gene expression of lipogenic enzymes. Sesamin has been shown to be a potent PPARalpha activator1.

Sesamin, mitochondria, peroxisomes, & beta-oxidation

Fat can be oxidized in the mitochondria and peroxisomes of cells, with the majority of oxidation occurring in skeletal muscle cells and the liver. Activation of PPARalpha by sesamin increases fat oxidation in the mitochondria and peroxisomes by increasing the expression of enzymes involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids9. Importantly, sesamin increases the expression of the mitochondrial enzyme carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT)9. CPT, the value-limiting enzyme in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids in skeletal muscle and liver cell mitochondria, is found on the outer membrane of mitochondria and carries fatty acids across the membrane into the mitochondria by binding to it. Increasing the expression of CPT allows more fatty acids to be transported into the mitochondria where they can be oxidized. The ability of sesamin to cause an increase in fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria and peroxisomes is important because mitochondria can only oxidize short-chain to long-chain fatty acids, while peroxisomes can shorten fatty acids of all lengths, including very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA).

More peroxisomes

As the name suggests, peroxisome proliferator activator receptor causes the creation of additional peroxisomes. More peroxisomes means that more fat can be oxidized.

PPARalpha activation also increases uncoupling proteins (UCPs). UCPs decrease the efficiency of mitochondria, which means that an increase in UCPs would increase the calories needed to produce the same amount of energy as before, which is also considered a "waste" of calories.

A "waste" of calories would lead to greater caloric expenditure and therefore fat loss. By increasing the expression of enzymes involved in beta-oxidation and increasing UCPs, PPARalpha activation by sesamin increases the amount and capacity at which cells can burn fat.

Sesamin & lipogenesis

In addition to increasing the oxidation of fat, sesamin supplementation has also been shown to decrease lipogenesis (fat storage) by reducing lipogenic enzymes in the liver.

Sesamin also reduces the lipogenic gene expression of the sterol regulatory element binding protein -1 (SREBP -1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase and other lipogenic enzymes10, which means that less fat is esterified in the liver and therefore less fat is stored in adipose tissue (fat cells).

So sesamin works in two ways to make you lean (and keep you lean):

  • Increasing fat oxidation
  • Decreased storage of fat
  • Sesamin & ketogenesis

Ketogenesis occurs when fatty acid oxidation is increased to the point where the liver can no longer convert the fatty acids to energy. An excess of acetyl-CoA (which can come from fat, glucose or amino acid metabolism) is converted to ketones in the liver and released into the bloodstream to be used by other tissues (especially the brain).

Ketogenesis is very important during low carb diets because the brain cannot use fatty acids as fuel, only glucose. When glucose levels are low, the brain turns to ketones for energy.

Sesamin has been shown to increase ketone production11. Increasing ketone production should have a protein-sparing effect, as fewer amino acids are needed to make ketones. This means that your muscle mass is spared while you are dieting.

High blood pressure: sesame oil saves on medication

The polyunsaturated fatty acids and sesamin in the oil plant have a positive effect. This has now been reported by an Indian scientist at the research congress of the "Inter-American Society of Hypertension". Devarajan Sankar's team from Annamalai University conducted the sesame study with 195 male and 133 female hypertension patients. The participants, who were on average 58 years old, had to consume 35 grams of sesame oil daily over a period of 60 days. At the same time, they reduced their intake of two high blood pressure medications by 15 to 20 percent. In addition, the intake of nifedipine, which relaxes the arteries, was reduced by two thirds. According to the researchers, accompanying blood pressure measurements confirmed that the consumption of sesame oil was able to compensate for the reduction in medication. Similar experiments had already been carried out successfully with rats. The blood pressure-lowering effect was probably due to the sesamin and the 43 percent polyunsaturated fatty acids in the oil. In addition, 100 grams of oil contain around 40 milligrams of vitamin E. However, the researchers emphasize that patients with high blood pressure should always consult their doctor if they want to reduce their consumption of medication.

Health benefits of sesamin

In addition to an increase in fat oxidation and a reduction in lipogenesis, supplementation with sesamin also has many health benefits. It has been shown that sesamin:

  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Is itself an antioxidant and increases the recovery of vitamin E(4)
  • Provides liver protection against alcohol and improves liver function5
  • Reduces cholesterol levels6 while increasing levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL also known as "good cholesterol")7
  • Is anti-inflammatory.

These health benefits show that supplementing with sesamin is a wise choice.

Sesamin "Point-Blank" Summary

Supplementing with sesamin will cause your body to oxidize fat and not store it. Supplementing with Sesamin is also said to help preserve muscle mass while dieting and has many positive health benefits.

Sesamin:

  • Increases thermogenesis
  • Increases fat oxidation
  • Up-regulation of "fat-burning" enzymes
  • Reduces the storage of fat
  • Downwards regulation of the "fat-storing" enzymes
  • Increases insulin sensitivity
  • Increases the formation of ketones
  • A fuel used during a diet
  • Conserves glucose
  • Effective antioxidant
  • Reduces cholesterol levels
  • Increases HDL levels
  • Reduces LDL levels
  • Reduces blood pressure (lowers blood pressure)
  • Improves liver and kidney health
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • No stimulant effect

References

  1. JARQ 37 (3), 151 - 158 (2003)
  2. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2004 Jun 1;1682(1-3):80-91
  3. J Hypertens. 2004 Dec;22(12):2329-38
  4. Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 Jul;262(1-2):195-202
  5. Ann Nutr Metab. 1993;37(4):218-24
  6. J Lipid Res. 1991 Apr;32(4):629-38
  7. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol Suppl. 1995 Dec;22(1):S310-2
  8. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Sep;72(3):804-8
  9. J Agric Food Chem. 2001 May;49(5):2647-51
  10. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2001 Nov 30;1534(1):1-
  11. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1999 Aug;45(4):437-48
  12. Takashi IDE, Masayo KUSHIRO, Yoko TAKAHASHI, Kazuki SHINOHARA, Nobuhiro FUKUDA and Satoko SIRATO-YASUMOTO. Sesamin, a Sesame Lignan, as a Potent Serum Lipid-Lowering Food Component. JARQ 37 (3), 151-158 (2003).
  13. Tohru Utsunomiya, Sambasiva R Chavali, W William Zhong and R Armour Forse. Effects of sesamin-supplemented dietary fat emulsions on the ex vivo production of lipopolysaccharide-induced prostanoids and tumor necrosis factor alpha in rats. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 72, No. 3, 804-808, September 2000.