14 DAY TRIAL // A report published in yesterday's issue of the journal Cell Metabolism announces the discovery of a new hormone that scientists say mimics some of the beneficial effects physical exercise has been shown to have on the body.
The hormone, which goes by the name of MOTS-c, is said to regulate the metabolism and, in doing so, prevent and limit weight gain resulting from eating one too many sugary or fatty treats.
Admittedly, its effects have until now only been studied on laboratory mice. Still, specialists with the University of Southern California in the US suspect that it can also help guys and gals keep fit, maybe even prove a worthy ally when it comes to combating obesity.
How the newly discovered hormone works
In the paper detailing their work, the University of Southern California researchers behind this study explain that, as shown by previous investigations, hormones are essentially signaling molecules that trigger all sorts of physiological responses in the body.
To study the effects of MOTS-c on the body and especially on the metabolism, the scientists started by feeding a bunch of laboratory mice a high-fat diet. Under normal circumstances, this diet should have caused the rodents to put on weight and develop insulin resistance.
The thing is that, while allowed to feed on high-fat snacks to their heart's desire, the laboratory mice that the researchers experimented on were also injected with carefully calibrated doses of the MOTS-c hormone. Thanks to this hormone, the mice neither got fat nor developed insulin resistance.
In fact, study senior author Pinchas Cohen and his colleagues say that the hormone reversed insulin resistance in mice that developed this health issue not because of an unhealthy diet, but because of their age. This find is all the more important seeing how, in humans, insulin resistance precedes diabetes.
The hormone could also benefit people
Although its positive effects have so far only been documented in the case of laboratory mice, the University of Southern California suspect that the newly discovered MOTS-c hormone can also benefit people in that it can help reduce diabetes risk and fight weight gain, maybe even obesity.
This is because the molecular mechanisms that make this hormone tick are the same in all mammals, humans and mice included. The scientists hope that, about 3 years from now, they will be granted permission to debut clinical trials involving human volunteers.
Commenting on the importance of further studying this hormone and better understanding its effects on the body, study senior author Pinchas Cohen pointed out, “This represents a major advance in the identification of new treatments for age-related diseases such as diabetes.”