Exercise pill could curb food cravings for couch potatoes, study reveals

Stanford, CA — According to new research, “anti-hunger” pills may be imminent. Researchers at Stanford University and Baylor University have identified molecules that prevent people from becoming hungry after exercising.

In experiments, this compound dramatically reduced food intake and obesity in mice. The authors of the study want to turn it into a drug that may replace the need to go to the gym.

“Regular exercise has proven to help with weight loss. Regulate appetite According to SWNS, it improves the metabolic profile of people, especially those who are overweight or obese, “said Professor Yong Xu, lead author of Baylor College of Medicine, in a statement. “Understanding the mechanisms by which exercise causes these benefits will help many people improve their health.”

Journal findings Nature It sheds fresh light on the relationship between exercise and hunger. Physical activity protects you from obesity and many illnesses.

“We are all generally aware that exercise is beneficial. Good for weight, Glucose control“Dr. Jonathan Long, an assistant professor of pathology at Standford Medicine, said. University release.. “But we wanted to explore the concept in more detail. We wanted to see if we could analyze motion in terms of molecules and pathways.”

Training by-products lower body fat and improve glucose tolerance

The team performed a comprehensive analysis of plasma from mice after intense treadmill running. They identified a modified amino acid called Lac-Phe as the most significantly derived molecule.

Is synthesized from lactic acid, a by-product of Vigorous exercise Responsibility Burning sensation of muscles, And phenylalanine, a protein building block. In experimental rodents fed a high-fat diet, the high dose of Lac-Phe halved food intake over 12 hours compared to the control group. It also did not affect their movements or energy consumption. After 10 days of administration of Lac-Phe to mice, consumption and body fat decreased and glucose tolerance improved.

Researchers have also identified an enzyme called CNDP2 that is involved in the production of Lac-Phe. They showed that mice lacking the enzyme did not lose as much weight with exercise therapy as the controls of the same scheme.

Interestingly, the team also found a strong increase in plasma Lac-Phe levels following racehorse and human physical activity.Data from the human exercise group showed that sprint exercise induced the most dramatic increase in plasma Lac-Phe – followed by Resistance and endurance training.

“This suggests that Lac-Phe is an old and conserved system that regulates feeding and is associated with physical activity in many animal species,” says Dr. Long, according to SWNS. ..

The metabolic effects of Lac-Phe have not been investigated in human participants. Further research will be needed to provide more insight into new therapeutic opportunities for human health.

“Our next step involves finding out more about how Lac-Phe mediates its effects in the body, including the brain,” concludes Professor Xu. “Our goal is to learn to coordinate this motor pathway for therapeutic intervention.”

Mark Waghorn, writer of South West News Service, contributed to this report.