New weight-loss compound melts fat without curbing appetite — and preserves muscle
“Once we have extra weight on our body, that kind of becomes where our body thinks we’re supposed to be. That becomes our body’s weight set point,” she noted, adding that if someone stops a medication abruptly, the body may then work to return to its previous weight.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
The compound also showed promise in mouse models for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a form of fatty liver disease. Mice given TOFA had less liver fat, inflammation and fibrosis (scarring).
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
TOFA achieved these liver benefits without increasing triglyceride levels in the blood, the researchers noted. Some similar metabolic drugs have caused triglycerides to rise, creating potential cardiovascular and other health concerns that have complicated their development.
Study limitations
The authors emphasized that all the animal experiments involved male mice. Future studies will need to determine whether TOFA produces similar results in female animals.
The drug has not yet been tested in people, so researchers still don’t know what dose would be appropriate, whether it is safe to use over long periods, or whether it could cause subtle toxicities or other safety problems.
Patients concerned about their weight-loss journey should speak to a professional before making any medication changes. (iStock)
Pristas emphasized that early mouse data must be weighed carefully against potential hidden side effects in humans.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably too good to be true,” she said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“When you’re talking about manipulating our bodies’ manufacturing or processing of lipids, it’s complex. And so there can be downstream effects that we don’t want. That’s where we can’t get too excited.”
However, the expert said the treatment could eventually benefit people, either on its own or in combination with another therapy.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The study authors disclosed that several researchers are co-founders, officers or equity holders in ReRx Therapeutics, a company with an agreement giving it the option to develop UC Berkeley’s TOFA-related discovery.
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle writer with Fox News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a range of story topics including food and drink, travel, and health.
Article source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/new-weight-loss-compound-melts-fat-without-curbing-appetite-preserves-muscle