New drug turns white fat into brown
The results of a study conducted by scientists from the Houston Methodist Research Institute demonstrated the ability of the experimental drug GC-1 to significantly accelerate metabolism by converting white fat into brown fat.
The function of white fat associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome is to store excess calories entering the body, whereas brown fat is used by the body for rapid energy production. Until recently, experts were sure that brown fat is contained only in the body of animals and newborn children. To date, it is believed that adults also have brown fat, but over time it loses its ability to burn calories quickly.
According to one of the authors of the study, Dr. Kevin Phillips, when an excessive amount of white fat accumulates in the body, it turns into a "metabolic enemy". The results of a number of published studies indicate that a greater amount of brown fat in the body is associated with a reduced risk of obesity and diabetes mellitus. Therefore, researchers are actively working on finding ways to turn white fat into brown.
According to the author, the mechanism of action of GC-1 is the activation of receptors for thyroid hormone, which plays an important role in regulating the process of transformation of nutrients into energy. Thyroid hormone receptors also contribute to the functioning of the mechanism of active thermogenesis, which consists in the conversion of excess energy (calories and fat) into heat.
The authors tested the experimental drug GC-1 on hundreds of mice suffering from genetically determined or diet-induced obesity. All animals received a daily dose of the tested drug. As a result, mice with genetically determined obesity lost more than 50% of their fat mass within about 2 weeks. This was accompanied by at least a sixfold increase in tissue sensitivity to insulin, which indicates a pronounced antidiabetic efficacy of the drug. Similar improvements were observed in animals whose obesity was induced by the diet.
When conducting experiments on fat cells isolated from mice, the drug demonstrated the ability to induce adaptive heat generation. At the same time, under the action of the drug, both cell cultures and tissue samples isolated from animals showed a change in the color of fat from white to brown.
Currently, the GC-1 drug called sobetir is undergoing clinical trials as a means to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. However, the authors note that when conducting its clinical trials, much higher dosages will have to be used as a means to reduce body weight.
The results of the work will be presented at the 97th Annual Congress of the Society of Endocrinologists in San Diego.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on EurekAlert materials!:
Experimental drug turns 'bad' white fat into 'good' brown-like fat.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru10.03.2015