London: A class of compounds found in hops, the crop usually known for its role in beer production, reduces weight gain in obese and diabetic mice, according to a study.

The study, led by Patrice Cani of the Universite catholique de Louvain in Brussels, Belgium, showed that eight weeks of treatment with the compounds, called tetrahydro iso-alpha acids, also reduced gut permeability and normalized insulin sensitivity markers in the mice, among other beneficial metabolic effects.

Hops have been known to contain anti-inflammatory compounds with potential medicinal uses for metabolic disorders, like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, which are associated with low-grade inflammation.

These new results suggest a novel mechanism contributing to the positive effects of the investigated treatment, the authors wrote.

The study has been published in the open access journal PLoS ONE.