What is Sesamin? Sesamin is a naturally occurring lignan that is present in pure sesame oil. For your information, a lignan is broadly considered an antioxidant that is present in unfiltered and unrefined seeds of sesame, pumpkin and flax as well as many other foods. Besides being a strong antioxidant, sesamin has shown great promise as a lipid oxidizer as well as to support anti-inflammatory action. Its main mechanism for fatty acid oxidation (fat burning) is triggered by the enzyme known as PPAR-alpha. PPAR-alpha (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activator Receptor Alpha) is documented to exist in muscle, the liver and adipose tissue (fat). Sesamin being a strong activator of this enzyme (PPAR-alpha) is also involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids while simultaneously decreasing lipogenesis, or in simple terms, the accretion of new fatty acids. In other words, PPAR-alpha activation is directly correlated with increasing fat burning in muscle tissue. Which is a good thing!!! Sesamin and Insulin Sensitivity Due to sesamin’s strong beta-oxidizing properties the substance can also affect leptin levels and is documented to restore insulin sensitivity in obese rodents. Insulin sensitivity is often impaired in those whose body fat levels exceed 15% and above. In more simple terms, by providing the necessary substrate; sesamin is believed to act as a thermostat of sorts that can regulate leptin as well as insulin levels from within the body keeping both in optimal balance. Sesamin and Ketosis Sesamin is a welcomed addition for those who are on ketogenic diets as it is known to increase ketone production thereby sparing lean muscle tissue that is otherwise lost through amino acid conversion, usually sacrificed to fuel the body on low carb diets. Ketogenesis (or the formation of ketones) becomes a major fuel factor on low carb (Atkins) diets as the brain cannot be driven by fatty acids and thereby relies on glucose first..and ketones second. So essentially, without Sesamin in your diet, the body will tap into muscle tissue for its ketone needs since carbohydrates are obviously kept at bay (at least in those who are on ketogenic or low carbohydrate diets). In Closing Sesamin is an excellent addition to anybody’s workout regimen, not only to increase fat burning, but also for its overall anti-oxidant and nutrient partioning properties. Some of the later research even points out that Sesamin shows great promise in the lowering of LDL (bad) cholesterol while simultaneously increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels in humans. **
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