Accelerating Metabolism could Lead to new Obesity Treatment

A new study is showing that they can use metabolism to treat obesity. By manipulating a biochemical process that underlies cells energy-burning abilities, researchers made a novel discovery that could lead to a new therapy to combat obesity and diabetes. The new findings show that reducing the amount of nicotinamide N-methyltransefrase (NNMT) protein in fat and liver drastically reduces the development of obesity and diabetes in mice. NMMT is an enzyme that processes vitamin B3 and has been linked to specific types of cancer and well as Alzheimer disease. The new findings hinge on the biochemical mechanism known as the futile cycle, in which cellular reactions are sped up, thereby granting more energy.“We all know people who can seemingly eat whatever they want and not gain weight,” explains a researcer. “Part of the reason for this natural weight control owes to basal cellular metabolism – the body’s inherent rate of burning energy. A futile cycle is one way to speed up energy utilization in cells.”

     It is only a matter of time that this advancement can be treated in humans as well. I am always curious to see how studies that are performed within an animal moves on to being tested inside the human body. If it is true that such a simple change in biochemical process can affect obesity and help the enzyme regulate more energy for efficiency weight loss, then count me in for further investigation in the future.