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Jan 6, 2009 04:38 PM | 40
Drugs currently on the market but used for other purposes helped plump mice shed pounds by upping their response to the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin, according to a new study. Researchers say the findings offer new hope in the search for weight-loss meds that exploit the hunger-dampening hormone, first discovered some 13 years ago.
"Leptin is a protein secreted from the adipocytes (fat cells)," says Umut Ozcan, an endocrinologist at Children's Hospital in Boston, Mass., and senior author of the study published today in the journal Cell Metabolism. "When fat cells release this hormone, it travels to an area [in the brain] called the hypothalamus," which controls appetite. Upon entering the hypothalamus, Ozcan says, the hormone alerts brain cells, or neurons, that the body has taken in enough food to meet its energy needs so there's no reason to keep eating. He says that most obese people have developed a resistance to leptin, which means that the hypothalamus no longer heeds its messages to stop chowing down.
"When leptin goes to knock on the door [to try to deliver its message to the neurons in the hypothalamus], they don't respond," Ozcan says. This triggers a feeling of constant hunger, causing people to overeat, leading to even greater leptin resistance: "It becomes a vicious cycle," he says.
Ozcan and his colleagues sought to reverse leptin resistance in mice by using two drugs already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat other disorders: 4-Phenyl Butyric Acid (PBA), an Rx that helps treat conditions that hinder the body's ability to get rid of nitrogen (a waste product normally excreted in urine) in the blood, and Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), used to treat liver ailments such as primary billiary cirrosis, a disease in which the ducts are destroyed that produce bile, which breaks down fat in the body.
Both of these drugs are classified as "chemical chaperones," which are designed to improve the function of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a structure inside the cells that is responsible for making proteins that carry out a variety of functions. For some unknown reason, Ozcan says, the ER in obese people becomes overtaxed and fails to produce sufficient amounts of protein, which, for some unknown reason, de-activates the cells' leptin receptors.
When researchers gave chunky mice leptin injections along with PBA or TUDCA, the animals rapidly dropped weight. After 30 days on the drugs, they had lost at least 16 percent of their body weight, according to Ozcan. The $64,000 (or, perhaps, $64 million) question: will it work in people? Not sure, he says, but adds that one day he hopes to conduct clinical trials along with other researchers.
Image credit ©iStockphoto.com/Jim DeLillo
Tags:
weight loss,
drugs,
leptin
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40 Comments
Add Commentsign me up.... i'll try the clinical trials!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWow, pretty amazing stuff dude!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswww.web-privacy.pro.tc
Why go down the drug road, with all the unknown side-effects, when a simple herb can give the same result? Recent research [with human mice!] on Irvingia [a West African herb] produced equally amazing weight loss and at a much healthier rate . See the Life extension article at
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswww.lef.org/magazine/mag2008/ss2008_report_more-weight-loss.htm @ 79k
What do you thing makes the herb work? It's chemicals (drugs# in the herb that actually cause the effect #if there is one).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYep, the side effect should be concerned. I do not whether the author confirmed the drug or chemical woking on the cell or may affect some other metabolic pathway.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thistjj300, you just have to remember that herbs never have side effects. All things found in nature are, of course, completely benign in terms of harmful side-effects. There's no need to test them. Those who've claimed to experience serious side-effects from herbal remedies are, of course, simply lying.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy are we spending so much money and time on diseases of affluence (obesity and its related diseases) when there are people starving in other nations? And when common sense and 'everything in moderation' is the straight-forward answer, in most cases?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOh dear God, tell me you are joking. "All things found in nature are, of course, completely benign in terms of harmful side-effects." Do you honestly believe that? Where do I even begin....let's try some simple ones first then: Nightshade, hemlock, mistletoe and lily of the valley. All plants, but will all kill you if you consume them in high enough quantities. Not to mention the umpteen other natural compounds found in venomns and secretions in the animal world which are poisoinous.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat you've said is very irrisponsible. You really should check out the facts before posting.
Thank-you vickiemc. Another thing that herb-enthralled people don't know, is that the term 'natural flavorings' does not mean that the flavor ingredient is from the natural source. For example, natural coconut flavoring is usually an extract of a certain tree's bark, which is loaded with miscellaneous contaminants.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisManufactured drugs are almost always more pure than their (usually ineffective) herbal counterparts. If a medicine has been found to safetly control excessive weight gain, I applaud its use.
Why do this??? Just go to the gym!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisnice work vickiemc and dhrx. like your sense of humor. btw i'm not being sarcastic. just like herbal side effects, sarcasm is a lie.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisand angel- going to the gym and/or self-moderation requires effort. this is america. where's your patriotism?
Where do you think we get most of our original medications before they can be mimicked into synthetic? From nature, of course.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere are also a lot of natural poisons used practically since the beginning of time. Want to try one of those? Some of them are herbal as well !!!
Where have you been living? With the mushrooms? Some are poison, some are not. Some therapeutic herbs are poisonous once too much is ingested.
Please don't give out harmful advise to those who don't know better. Do you want to be the cause of someone's demise, or worse, death, just because of your own ignorance !!!
Without even visiting the site it sounds suspiciously like Dirk and Sandy Shaw. What a waste for a guy who is a genius who graduated top of his class at MIT (I believe) and who has devoted his talent to life extensions when he could have had the pick of research projects with grants and a little more help from his colleagues
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisvickiemc - As I read it, TheGooseMan was being sarcastic regarding qualister's response indicating that herbs are safer to use than drugs.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe response indicating that obesity is a "disease of affluence" is incorrect. Obesity affects the poor as well, and it is not just an issue of eating at McDonald's too often. We spend our money treating our people because these diseases (and they are often just that) inflict huge costs to our society in health care costs, lost work hours, etc.
As for the responses indicating that the gym is a panacea, or that simply eating in moderation will do the trick, they are also incorrect. Millions of those who struggle with weight issues attempt diets or lifestyle changes that use moderation, and exercise. Yet they fail. There are proven genetic issues regarding chemical imbalances that contribute to people being overweight. Yes, there are those who just eat big and don't exercise who may need psychological help instead. Can you name one person on Earth who WANTS to be fat?
Obesity is a complicated disease, and deserves the attention of our health care researchers just as other diseases do. We are not looking for a miracle "fat" pill to help people lose weight. What we do need to find are the cures for chemical imbalances that keep people overweight despite diet and exercise. It should not be impossible to believe that weight issues, which lead to so many other medical problems such as diabetes and heart disease, need to be addressed just like cancer or any other medical problem that disables or kills.
punahougirl84: "Can you name one person on Earth who WANTS to be fat?"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe kink of tonga, for one. Some cultures see obesity as a sign of material success.
That's <i>King</i> of Tonga
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI was overweight and depressed for years until I came across this amazing program called fit4lyfe.It completely changed my lifew hile maintaining who I was. It takes into consideration that a dieter and person who works out needs a life and has a life,maybe kidss too, and for me I hated working out. This program is a personalized one on one approach to successfully eating and working your way to losing weight and feeling great! check it out
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswww.fit4lyfe.webs.com
I was overweight and depressed for years until I came across this amazing program called fit4lyfe.It completely changed my lifew hile maintaining who I was. It takes into consideration that a dieter and person who works out needs a life and has a life,maybe kidss too, and for me I hated working out. This program is a personalized one on one approach to successfully eating and working your way to losing weight and feeling great! check it out
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswww.fit4lyfe.webs.com
There are a large amount of people wanting a quick fix now. Eat what I like and as much as I can. Pop a pill and all will be ok. Unfortunately long gone will be the days when you eat in moderation and played sport or went to the gym to keep your self in good nick.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.correctraining.com/weight-loss-pills.php
well medicine is to medicate but side effects.... can be a mind game since the body follows the mind.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'll go with train the mind 1st before doing anything for the body unless your dying...
well medicine is to medicate but side effects.... can be a mind game since the body follows the mind.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'll go with train the mind 1st before doing anything for the body unless your dying...
well medicine is to medicate but side effects.... can be a mind game since the body follows the mind.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'll go with train the mind 1st before doing anything for the body unless your dying...
well medicine is to medicate but side effects.... can be a mind game since the body follows the mind.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'll go with train the mind 1st before doing anything for the body unless your dying...
I think that western medicine is for medicating the body a condition but the mind can get in the way. I'll go more with a natural way to get it done
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNice Post!!!!. Many people are trying to reduce their weight. Your information will be useful to people who like to reduce their weight. Using drugs reduce the body weight is not a right way. Drugs will give side effects to body. To reduce weight, follow non chemical methods. That is good for health also.
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Nice Post!!!!. Many people are trying to reduce their weight. Your information will be useful to people who like to reduce their weight using drugs. Drugs are not good for health. Drugs will give side effects while using that. Avoid using drugs is good for health.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.real6packabs.com
Wouldnt just self control do the same trick?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWouldn't Self-control do the same thing?!?!
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Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI think that is great that there is a proven weight loss drug, but at the same time you got to think that there might be some really bad side affects
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere is a company called Solal Technologies in South Africa. They have manufactured a pill called Irvingia Plus (TM) Fat Burner. The active ingredients are Irvingia (containing patented IGOB131) and TUDCA.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI will be purchasing a bottle today.
Solal Technologies, www.solaltech.com, a South African bases company have just released a new product called Irvingia Plus (TM) Fat Burner. The main ingredient is Irvingia containing a patented substance called IGOB131. Another substance in this new product is TUDCA.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI will be purchasing mine today!
Yes, I do "go to the gym". I do an hour class of Nia 3 times a week. While my cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels and blood pressure has responded very well and my body is shapely and showing muscle tone and I am getting fit and very supple, my weight has not shifted at all. I do suspect that it is my insulin regime that is causing this problem but had a weight problem before I became diabetic. The TUDCA may help - if it does it can only be to my benefit.
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Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have always found that I am less likely to eat soon after exercise than much later or earlier. If I can avoid snacking and then exercising on a regular basis, my weight is always neutral.
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This is a really informative post. For anyone who is interested in <a href="http://www.achieveclinical.com/clinical-trials/obesity-and-weight-loss/">weight loss clinical trials</a>, there are upcoming trials taking place near Orlando.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this