We have been promised the holy grail of weight loss only to be offered a new, better, holier grail a few weeks later. Has science done it? Has science figured out the secret to dumping those unwanted pounds?
A new study, published in the journal Cell, suggests that the action of two naturally occurring hormones could be the way to turn your white fat brown, according to Monash University via PsyPost.
Lepitin is an appetite suppressant from fat cells and insulin is a chemical produced by the pancreas. The researchers at Monash University discovered that the two hormones together affect neurons that send messages to the brain regarding fat burning.
"These hormones give the brain a comprehensive picture of the fatness of the body," said lead researcher Tony Tiganis, from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. "Because leptin is produced by fat cells, it measures the level of existing fat reserves - the more fat, the more leptin. Whereas insulin provides a measure of future fat reserves because glucose levels rise when we eat."
Adipocytes are target cells made of white fat, but there is another form of fat - brown fat - that is easier to burn off. Lepitin and insulin talk to proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus, which tells the nervous system to turn white fat brown. Enzymes called phosphatases regulate the browning process, so if phosphatases are reduced, fat will brown and burn off.
"Eventually, we think we may be able to help people lose weight by targeting these two enzymes," said Tiganis. "Turning white fat into brown fat is a very exciting new approach to developing weight loss agents. But it is not an easy task, and any potential therapy is a long way off."
To learn more about brown fat, click here.
