Hunger-inhibiting agent discovered
The protein could make people eat less
Also In The News
|
Strathclyde police have confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched into the "horrific" death of missing Polish student Angelika Kluk. |  |
Monday, 02, Oct 2006 02:37
A new brain molecule has been identified that scientists believe could stop global obesity problems dead in their tracks.
In a study involving rats, Japanese researchers found that they could induce a feeling of fullness by introducing a new protein into their brains.
The protein in question, nesfetin-1, is found naturally in the rats' hypothalamuses, the body-regulating region of the brain.
Extra proteins were injected into a group of rats' brains everyday for a period of ten days, with the rodents subsequently eating less and losing weight.
As a counter, a group of rats were given nefestin-1-blocking antibodies, the results being that the second batch gained weight within less than a week.
Masatomo Mori and his colleagues at the Gunma University in Maebashi, believe that the protein could prove more effective than existing hormone treatments such as sibutramine and orlistat in combating obesity.
Mr Mori writes: "Nesfetin-1 might be a useful target for the development of drugs to treat obese people," confirming that researchers were planning to develop a human version of the drug.
The World Health Organisation says that almost one sixth of the world's population is overweight, with about 300 million people classed as obese.