Medical Bulletin 20/November/2025

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy when the body cannot produce enough insulin to manage the increased blood sugar. It usually appears in the second or third trimester and can lead to complications like high birth weight, preterm birth, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life for both mother and child. Early diagnosis and proper management through diet, exercise, and sometimes medication can help protect maternal and fetal health.

Researchers analyzed RNA sequencing data from European and Chinese pregnancy cohorts, identifying hundreds of errors in RNA splicing within placentas affected by gestational diabetes. These errors were particularly concentrated in genes that regulate metabolism and diabetes-related pathways. The main culprit appears to be a protein called SRSF10, known for its role in RNA splicing. Laboratory experiments confirmed that blocking SRSF10 in placental cells caused disruptions that mirrored those found in GDM pregnancies, implicating it as a master regulator of placental function.

The study’s methodology involved comparing RNA splicing patterns in placental tissues from healthy and GDM pregnancies, using advanced sequencing techniques to map molecular changes. Functional studies where SRSF10 was suppressed reinforced the critical role of this protein in maintaining normal placental gene expression. These findings suggest that targeting SRSF10 could someday help prevent or lessen gestational diabetes complications for newborns.

The research reveals why babies born to mothers with GDM are at higher risk for complications such as abnormal birth sizes, pre-term deliveries, and long-term metabolic problems. By unraveling how disrupted splicing impairs placental function, the work offers new hope for interventions. Understanding SRSF10’s role could lead to therapies that improve pregnancy outcomes and protect offspring from diabetes-related health issues even later in life.

REFERENCE: Eden Engal, Adi Gershon, Shiri Melamed, Aveksha Sharma, Hadas Ner-Gaon, Shiri Jaffe-Herman, Yuval Nevo, Alena Kirzhner, Oren Barak, Edi Vaisbuch, Gillian Kay, Anne Cathrine Staff, Ralf Dechend, Florian Herse, Tal Shay, Maayan Salton, Tal Schiller; Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Alters Placental Precursor mRNA Splicing. Diabetes 2025; db250333. https://doi.org/10.2337/db25-0333

Daily Black Cumin Intake Enhances Blood Lipid Profiles, Lowers Obesity Risk: Study

A centuries-old spice, Nigella sativa or black cumin, known for enhancing the taste of curries, also holds remarkable health benefits. A recent study led by Osaka Metropolitan University, and published in Food Science and Nutrition, found that daily intake of 5 grams of black cumin seed powder for eight weeks significantly improved blood lipid profiles by lowering triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol. These changes are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and early death.

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is packed with potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that underpin its broad health benefits. Key bioactives like thymoquinone, flavonoids, and phenolic acids help neutralize harmful free radicals, reducing oxidative stress linked to chronic disease. They modulate immune responses by lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines which play roles in inflammation and tissue damage. These properties support cardiovascular health by improving lipid profiles and reducing vascular inflammation, while also aiding metabolic balance.

The research combined human clinical trials with cellular experiments. In the trial, participants consumed 5 grams (about one tablespoon) of black cumin seed powder daily for eight weeks. Blood samples were taken before and after the intervention to measure triglycerides, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and total cholesterol. Parallel laboratory studies investigated how black cumin seed extract affects fat cell development in cultured cells, focusing on fat droplet accumulation and differentiation processes.

The clinical trial demonstrated significant reductions in blood triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol, alongside increases in protective HDL cholesterol. These improvements are linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death. Cellular experiments revealed that black cumin inhibits adipogenesis by blocking fat droplet formation and fat cell maturation. This suggests black cumin’s seeds can regulate fat metabolism and may prevent obesity-related health issues.

Professor Akiko Kojima-Yuasa, the study’s lead, emphasized black cumin’s role as a functional food with tangible lipid-lowering effects demonstrated in humans. The team aims to conduct longer, larger trials to explore its impact on insulin resistance and inflammation, particularly relevant for diabetes.

This research positions black cumin as a flavorful, natural supplement with promising metabolic benefits, bridging traditional use and modern science for tackling obesity and related diseases.

REFERENCE: Shamima Ahmed, Mohammad Shaokat Ali, Yuki Nishigaki, Ranita Das, Sumsuddin Ahmed Shiblu, Sharmin Akter, Isao Matsui-Yuasa, Akiko Kojima-Yuasa; Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa) Confers Anti-Adipogenic Effects in 3T3-L1 Cellular Model and Lipid-Lowering Properties in Human Subjects; Food Science and Nutrition; https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.70888

Research Reveals Processed Junk Food Alters Brain Regions Controlling Hunger

A surprising new study reveals that ultra-processed foods (UPFs), widely known for their convenience and addictive flavors, might be reshaping your brain—potentially driving overeating habits.

The findings of the study was published in npj Metabolic Health and Disease.

Researchers analyzed dietary and brain imaging data from roughly 30,000 middle-aged adults in the UK Biobank. They assessed how UPF intake correlates with brain microstructure in regions responsible for hunger, reward, and emotional eating — notably the hypothalamus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens.

The study used advanced MRI techniques to measure cellular integrity, water content, and tissue microarchitecture, adjusting for confounders like body mass index, diet composition, physical activity, and socioeconomic factors.

Findings showed that higher UPF consumption is associated with altered brain tissue properties, including increased cellularity in the hypothalamus and reduced cellularity accompanied by more water content in other feeding-related areas. These neural changes could disrupt appetite regulation, making people more prone to overeating.

Mediation analyses showed part of the effect is linked to obesity-related metabolic disturbances such as increased triglycerides, systemic inflammation, and glucose dysregulation, but direct effects independent of adiposity were also evident. The chemical additives and altered nutrient profiles of UPFs likely contribute to these brain changes.

This research offers a novel perspective on why UPFs drive overconsumption and obesity beyond just taste or calorie density. These brain alterations may create a reinforcing cycle of increased UPF intake, complicating weight management.

Although the study is observational and cannot prove causality, it underscores the urgent need to reconsider dietary guidelines and food policies addressing UPF exposure to protect brain health and curb the obesity epidemic.

With obesity and metabolic diseases rising globally, understanding how diet shapes brain circuits controlling feeding provides new targets for prevention and treatment strategies. Future research will explore mechanisms and potential reversibility of these brain impacts.

REFERENCE: Morys, F., Kanyamibwa, A., Fängström, D. et al. Ultra-processed food consumption affects structural integrity of feeding-related brain regions independent of and via adiposity. npj Metab Health Dis 3, 13 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00056-3