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Obesity is one of the most common civilization diseases. For years, scientists have been working on drugs that could remedy this problem and protect millions of people from its consequences. Promising data were recently presented by researchers from San Antonio, USA, who have developed a solution to fight obesity.
- According to data from the World Health Organization, 2016 billion adults worldwide were overweight in 1,9, and 650 million were obese. Today, these numbers may be even greater
- Weight disorders are also a problem in Poland: up to 58% of them struggle with it. adults and lots of kids
- According to scientists from the University of Texas, a potential anti-obesity drug inhibits the activity of an enzyme that is associated, among others, with the absorption of cholesterol
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A small particle to fight a big problem
A potential anti-obesity drug that blocks the action of cytochrome P450 8B1 – an enzyme associated with cholesterol absorption and obesity, has been developed by scientists from the University of Texas in San Antonio (USA). They informed about their innovative solution in the “Steroids” magazine.
“We have developed a small molecule that can be used to fight obesity, a global health problem,” says Prof. Francis Yoshimoto, lead author of the publication. “Growing up, I dreamed of helping my family members who suffered from obesity, heart disease and other ailments. This dream is now becoming a reality ».
The team of prof. Yoshimoto has developed and tested a drug that can inhibit the activity of P450 8B1, an enzyme that produces cholic acid in the body. Its inhibition reduces the absorption of cholesterol. This process could be key to treating obesity-related metabolic disorders and diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
- Read also: Obesity is the direct cause of a heart attack
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The mouse study showed promising results
The research was carried out in mice. They were given the new drug for seven days. The result was a marked drop in levels glucose in the blood – despite feeding the animals high-fat diet and rich in sucrose. Their body weight also did not increase. The tests performed have shown how the protein P450 inhibitor 8B1 leads to a healthier metabolic profile.
“Its potential could lead to the development of a therapeutic strategy to treat obesity-related insulin resistance,” the study authors say.
“I am a physiologist, so I strongly believe that the best way to combat the problem of non-communicable diseases is a healthy lifestyle, including exercise” – says prof. Eunhee Chung, co-author of the work in question. “Unfortunately, in our society, the percentage of people getting enough physical activity is low and the prevalence of obesity is steadily increasing. The promising data that gave the preliminary results of our study give hope for further testing of the inhibitor by prof. Yoshimoto ».
Overweight and obesity are global problems
According to the World Health Organization, 2016 billion adults worldwide were overweight in 1,9 and 650 million were obese. One in four deaths in the US is caused by heart disease, the main cause of which is obesity. The latest reports show that as much as 71 percent. American adults have a BMI too high.
In Poland, the problem of overweight concerns 58 percent. adults, which places us above the European average. More and more children also have too high body weight: every fourth boy and every third girl. (CARDBOARD)
- See also: Problems at home foster obesity in girls
Author: Katarzyna Czechowicz
kap / agt /
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