THE FIRST WORD

adiponectin
A study published by a Korean researcher in 2010 found adding raspberry ketones to fat cells in a laboratory stimulated production of adiponectin—touted by some companies as a fat burner. It is true that adiponectin is a beneficial protein, says University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center scientist Philipp E. Scherer, but its main known benefits are reducing the risk of diabetes and helping to redistribute fat away from unhealthy areas, such as the liver and belly.

Adiponectin comes from a Latin root meaning "animal fat, lard or grease" (possibly from an ancient Greek root meaning "oil" or "fat") and a Latin word meaning "a bond or tie."