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Now, a compound that mimics the effects of exercise!
Now, a compound that mimics the effects of exercise. If you are too lazy to hit the gym but want to enjoy all the benefits of exercise, new research may brighten your prospects.
If you are too lazy to hit the gym but want to enjoy all the benefits of exercise, new research may brighten your prospects. Scientists from Britain's University of Southampton have developed a molecule that mimics the effects of exercise; could potentially help obese people control glucose levels and lose weight at the same time.
The new molecule, called 'compound 14', inhibits the function of a cellular enzyme called ATIC, which is involved in metabolism, leading to the build-up of a molecule called ZMP in cells.
This increase in ZMP makes cells think that they have run out of energy by activating the cell's central energy sensor, thereby causing cells to try to increase their energy levels by increasing glucose uptake and metabolism - changes that typically occur during exercise.
The result was a reduction in fasting blood glucose levels, improved glucose tolerance and, at the same time, promoted weight loss in obese mice, the study found.
"The issue is that established drugs do not successfully enable patients with Type 2 diabetes to achieve glycaemic control and some can even result in weight gain, a leading factor driving the diabetes epidemic," said study co-author Felino Cagampang, associate professor in integrative physiology at University of Southampton.
"In contrast, this new molecule seems to reduce glucose levels and at the same time decrease body weight, but only if the subject is obese," Cagampang noted.
In the study, the molecule was given to two groups of mice who were fed either a normal diet or a high-fat diet making them obese and impairing their glucose tolerance (one of the clinical signs of pre-diabetes).
The scientists said they would develop the molecule further to examine the effect of long-term treatment and its mode of action in improving glucose tolerance and in reducing body weight.
If found to be safe, a drug could be developed to help those with diabetes and obesity manage their condition. The study was published in the journal Chemistry and Biology.
