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EDMONTON - A new way of using gene therapy to help those fighting the battle of the bulge has been discovered by University of Alberta researchers.
“This could be very easily translated to clinical trials,” said researcher Jason Dyck, adding that with so many people struggling to gain control of their weight, it’s time other treatments are investigated.
“Obesity hasn’t really been considered a severe enough disease for gene therapy. With the huge number of people that are obese and have type 2 diabetes, it’s time we start looking at alternate ways to treat this disease.”
The treatment focuses on increasing levels of a hormone released from fat cells.
As a person gains weight and fat cells get larger, the body releases less of this hormone — called apidonectin.
The thinner a person is, the more of the hormone they release, said Dyck.
Mice were injected with the hormone twice over a thirteen week period, which resulted in less weight gain, higher activity levels, and decreased insulin resistance.
A group fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet coupled with the gene therapy gained less weight, burned more calories, and were more active.
Dyck acknowledged that many might see the therapy as the next quick way to lose weight, but said it will not be as simple as your average weight loss pill or drink.
“This could be very easily translated to clinical trials,” said researcher Jason Dyck, adding that with so many people struggling to gain control of their weight, it’s time other treatments are investigated.
“Obesity hasn’t really been considered a severe enough disease for gene therapy. With the huge number of people that are obese and have type 2 diabetes, it’s time we start looking at alternate ways to treat this disease.”
The treatment focuses on increasing levels of a hormone released from fat cells.
As a person gains weight and fat cells get larger, the body releases less of this hormone — called apidonectin.
The thinner a person is, the more of the hormone they release, said Dyck.
Mice were injected with the hormone twice over a thirteen week period, which resulted in less weight gain, higher activity levels, and decreased insulin resistance.
A group fed a high-fat, high-sugar diet coupled with the gene therapy gained less weight, burned more calories, and were more active.
Dyck acknowledged that many might see the therapy as the next quick way to lose weight, but said it will not be as simple as your average weight loss pill or drink.
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