A natural molecule has been found that binds receptors in muscle cells and accelerates metabolism, but this effect has so far been demonstrated only in female mice, according to an online edition for girls and women aged 14 to 35. Pannochka. net For males the substance for some reason does not work. This is reported in the journal Chemistry & Biology.
Researchers from the School of Medicine at Emory University (Atlanta, USA) kept the rodents on a fat food and gave them a substance derived from the leaves of the tree Godmania aesculifolia.
It turned out that this substance "forgives" the females a fat diet, but its effect does not apply to males. Scientists say that the novelty can sometime become a highly effective tool for the prevention and treatment of obesity in women.
"This is the equivalent of diet pills, only our substance will help to always keep a good shape, even against a diet high in fat. It burns calories and does not affect the appetite at all, "writes Dr. Keqiang Ye, author of the study.
Scientists know that after physical exercise the body secretes a hormone called brain neurotropic factor (BDNF), which controls weight gain by restoring the balance between eating and energy consumption. Manipulation with this subtle mechanism is a promising strategy to combat obesity. But there is a problem: natural BDNF in the body quickly decomposes.
While developing a drug for neurological diseases, Dr. Ye and his colleagues accidentally discovered that a small natural molecule - 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) - can mimic the physiological functions of BDNF. This substance interacts with the enzymes of the cell, causing it to burn more calories.
When laboratory rodents were fed 7,8-dihydroxyflavone against a background of a high-fat diet, the females managed to maintain a healthy weight and metabolic profile with a normal appetite. The researchers found no side effects. Males, in turn, did not respond to the treatment of 7,8-DHF, they developed obesity and diabetes mellitus.
The mechanism behind these differences is not known, but scientists believe that the cause of sex hormones. For example, it is already known that estrogen can enhance the effects of BDNF, and 7,8-dihydroxyflavone affects estrogen metabolism.
Dr. Ye's team also developed a biological agent that helps the body better absorb 7.8-DHF. Now we are talking about conducting a clinical trial in China and Australia. Scientists expect that substances that mimic the effects of BDNF can be used not only in the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders, but also in severe neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.
"This drug has been intensively studied in a variety of neurological diseases. It demonstrates promising results in animal models of both sexes in diseases of the central nervous system. Obviously, we still have to understand why 7,8-DHF burns fat in females, and males do not, "writes Dr. Ye.
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