A new alternative to fight overweight in people has been announced. We are talking about a molecule that decreases body fat mass without affecting food intake and muscle mass.
The research has been carried out among professionals from the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and the University of New South Wales in Australia, resulting in the identification of a small mitochondrial uncoupler, called BAM15. This is how this molecule works.
BAM15, a molecule to help fight obesity, tested in mice with positive results
The studies began in mice, where the drug was administered to study its effectiveness. When looking at the results, they observed weight loss, even when the mice ate the same diet and had the same muscle mass.
This molecule, defined as a mitochondrial uncoupler, attacks mitochondria, which are described as the powerhouse of cells. They generate ATP, another molecule that generates cellular energy to provide movement to the body and to make it work properly.
With all this, the team of researchers came to the conclusion that the molecule does not alter body temperature, does not affect the satiety center in the brain that controls appetite and does not present toxicity in higher doses.
For his part, Webster Santos, professor of chemistry at Virginia Tech, has stated the following: Anything that lowers the PMF has the potential to increase respiration. Mitochondrial uncouplers are small molecules that go into mitochondria to help cells breathe more. Effectively, they change the metabolism.
Among the benefits of this molecule we find the treatment and prevention of obesity and diabetes. In addition, it will have a positive impact on the prevention of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease that causes fat to accumulate in the liver.
Even through the Virginia Tech news section it has been said that this alternative can decrease insulin resistance and has beneficial effects on oxidative stress and inflammation, which have a negative impact on the progression of degenerative diseases and aging.
However, although this is a great advance on the subject, researchers have highlighted that need the same type of molecule but one that can stay in the body longer to take effect, so its success in humans may not be 100%, at least for now. We hope they can move forward in the area in the coming months to update the news.
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