Researchers from Houston Methodist Research
Institute recently conducted a study to see if they could turn bad fat
(white fat) into good fat (brown fat).
While white fat is a thermal insulator, provides cushion for our
internal organs, produces a hormone that helps regulate appetite and hunger,
and serves other important functions, having an overabundance of it causes
obesity and metabolic disease. Brown fat
helps us burn calories.
When testing fat cells that were
isolated from the mice, Phillips and the other researchers discovered that GC-1
induced adaptive thermogenesis in the cells. The researchers also observed white fat
browning in cells grown in culture and tissue samples taken from the mice. The scientists concluded that GC-1 is a great
fat-browning agent that may be able to treat obesity and metabolic disease. The drug has not entered human trials for
weight loss yet. Scientists have,
however, started clinical trials for lowering cholesterol. The doses used in the cholesterol trials are
reportedly much smaller than the doses that would be needed for weight loss.
I found this research quite
interesting. I think if scientists can
establish the appropriate dose of GC-1 needed for weight loss in humans, it
would help dramatically reduce obesity.
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