Manipulating energy expenditure: potential in obesity

Inpharma 1262 - 4 Nov 2000 Manipulating energy expenditure: potential in obesity Skeletal muscle respiratory uncoupling appears to attenuate obesity and insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet, report researchers from the US. 1 The researchers conducted studies in mice with skeletal muscle overexpression of uncoupling protein (UCP), which causes energy from metabolism of food to be released as heat. Among mice receiving a chow diet, bodyweight, fasting glucose levels and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in mice with low (UCP-L) or high levels of UCP overexpression, compared with wild-type mice; there were no differences in body temperatures. Less bodyweight gain Further studies were conducted in UCP-L mice. When mice were fed a high-fat diet, the associated bodyweight gain in both males and females was less in UCP-L mice, compared with wild-type mice. Similarly, when male mice were fed a high-fat diet containing cholesterol, UCP-L mice, compared with wild-type mice, had significantly lower bodyweight, fat mass and fasting glucose, insulin and cholesterol levels. UCP-L mice also had enhanced sensitivity to insulin. The researchers believe that their findings support ‘the idea that partial uncoupling of respiration in skeletal muscle could be used to treat obesity and its complications’. In an accompanying editorial, Dr Leslie Kozak from Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US, comments that the possibility of increasing brown adipocyte numbers in adults’ white fat deposits plus the identification of various members of the UCP family which are able to stimulate energy expenditure ‘has led to renewed optimism that pharmacological strategies to reduce obesity and diabetes by physiological mechanisms similar to those of exercise will be possible’. 2 1. Li B, et al. Skeletal muscle respiratory uncoupling prevents diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice. Nature Medicine 6: 1115-1120, Oct 2000. 2. Kozak LP. Uncoupling diet and diabetes. Nature Medicine 6: 1092-1093, Oct 2000. 800840187 1 Inpharma 4 Nov 2000 No. 1262 1173-8324/10/1262-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

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Transcript of Manipulating energy expenditure: potential in obesity

Inpharma 1262 - 4 Nov 2000

Manipulating energy expenditure:potential in obesity

Skeletal muscle respiratory uncoupling appears toattenuate obesity and insulin resistance induced by ahigh-fat diet, report researchers from the US.1

The researchers conducted studies in mice withskeletal muscle overexpression of uncoupling protein(UCP), which causes energy from metabolism of food tobe released as heat.

Among mice receiving a chow diet, bodyweight,fasting glucose levels and triglyceride levels weresignificantly lower in mice with low (UCP-L) or highlevels of UCP overexpression, compared with wild-typemice; there were no differences in body temperatures.

Less bodyweight gainFurther studies were conducted in UCP-L mice. When

mice were fed a high-fat diet, the associated bodyweightgain in both males and females was less in UCP-L mice,compared with wild-type mice. Similarly, when malemice were fed a high-fat diet containing cholesterol,UCP-L mice, compared with wild-type mice, hadsignificantly lower bodyweight, fat mass and fastingglucose, insulin and cholesterol levels. UCP-L mice alsohad enhanced sensitivity to insulin.

The researchers believe that their findings support‘the idea that partial uncoupling of respiration in skeletalmuscle could be used to treat obesity and itscomplications’.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Leslie Kozak fromPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge,Louisiana, US, comments that the possibility ofincreasing brown adipocyte numbers in adults’ white fatdeposits plus the identification of various members ofthe UCP family which are able to stimulate energyexpenditure ‘has led to renewed optimism thatpharmacological strategies to reduce obesity anddiabetes by physiological mechanisms similar to those ofexercise will be possible’.2

1. Li B, et al. Skeletal muscle respiratory uncoupling prevents diet-induced obesityand insulin resistance in mice. Nature Medicine 6: 1115-1120, Oct 2000.

2. Kozak LP. Uncoupling diet and diabetes. Nature Medicine 6: 1092-1093, Oct2000.

800840187