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6 CapitalPress.com April 13, 2018 Hops compound may offset obesity’s risks By GAIL OBERST For the Capital Press Oregon State University re- searchers have developed deriva- tives of xanthohumol, a compound that occurs naturally in the hop plant, and can combat metabolic syndrome in obese mice, and some day, humans. The syndrome is caused by a high-fat diet and impacts nearly 25 percent of U.S. adults, causing high blood pressure, inflammation and insulin resistance, putting them at risk of heart disease and diabetes, to name a few health problems. The new discovery, published in January, may solve many health problems, and if it is developed, may also offer a new market for the world’s hop growers, including those in the Northwest. “We’re really excited about this,” said Cristobal Miranda, a research associate professor at OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute. Miranda, with Fred Stevens and 18 other national and international authors, released their latest findings in Scientific Re- ports, a research journal. The latest research indicates that hydrogenated derivatives of xanthohumol have greater potency than xanthohumol itself in lowering body weight gain and reducing in- sulin resistance in obese mice. But beer and xanthohumol part ways at the cone. Xanthohumol is a highly purified ingredient unique to hops, and is found in most hop- JTI Supply is your source for trusted makers of sprayer equipment & parts. py beers. However, a person would have to drink 3,500 beers daily for the same benefit presumed from a 175 mg tablet of xanthohumol, the estimated human dosage to battle symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Even if the beers could be con- sumed, the newly isolated deriva- tives are free of estrogenic proper- ties that have been associated with xanthohumol consumption. Don’t go looking for the deriva- tives in your natural food stores or pharmacies just yet. Although re- search on mice and rats — and some human tests — are compelling, the federally required human trials are still in the wings. Stevens and Mi- randa are hoping to complete trials as soon as funds are available. The findings were no accident. Discovery of the hop derivatives’ health properties culminates re- search that spans decades. Miran- da and Stevens have published 24 scientific papers together, most de- tailing their hops research. Testing the derivatives of xanthohumol was the final step in demonstrating their beneficial health effects without the problematic adverse effects of es- trogen in hops. “We’ve finally fixed that aberra- tion,” Stevens said. Meanwhile, the infrastructure for processing the derivatives is already in place. Northwest and German and laboratories, some connected to beer production and others to health research, already process xanthohu- mol. Xanthohumol has long been part of pre-clinical and clinical test- ing at OSU and Oregon Health and Science University. Hopsteiner, a hop grower, glob- al distributor and processor with locations including Yakima, Wash., provided purified xanthohumol for the study. It is both a blessing and a curse that xanthohumol and its potential for saving lives is found in hops, Stevens indicated. It is a blessing because it is read- ily and plentifully available from a natural source, and a curse for the same reason. In the U.S., natural products are often not taken as seriously as artifi- cial, lab-produced chemicals. But Stevens and Miranda are hoping some enlightened investor or sponsor will see the value of sup- porting human trials and bringing this supplement to the public. Tests on rodents were clear: According to their latest research on mice, a single supplement taken once a day may be able to prevent cardiovascu- lar disease, obesity and Type 2 dia- betes caused by high fat diets, with- out estrogen side effects or liver damage. Obesity and related disor- ders account for up to 21 percent of the money spent on U.S. health care — $190.2 billion — according to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Health and Economics. “This is the first time we’ve seen one compound with the potential to address so many health problems,” said Miranda. Gail Oberst/For the Capital Press Fred Stevens, of Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute, is among the researchers who claim that xanthohumol, an ingredient in hops, can cure metabolic syndrome, a deadly condition caused by high-fat diets. PBM 100 GAL. WALKING BEAM SPRAYER Plus Check out our storage tanks. WE DELIVER ANYWHERE From PJ, Great Northern, Iron Panther, M.H. EBY, Banens, Others 31989 CINEMA WAY, TANGENT, OR 1/2 Mile North Of Hwy 34 ONV18-2/100 See full inventory at www.jtisupply.com ONV18-4/100 541-928-2937 • 1-800-982-1099 Diamond • Dumps • Enclosed • Utilities • Car Haulers • Flat Beds • Stock Trailers Trailer Sales Halsey, OR Your All Service Dealer Call 541-369-2755 or 541-740-5135 or 541-953-7548 View our inventory: diamondksales.com TRUCK BEDS starting at $2,150
