Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 13/10/2016 09:30:32

Title: Brown fat research opens up possibility of obesity tablets
Post by: thedoc on 13/10/2016 09:30:32
Scientists are looking into exploiting the body clock to prevent obesity.

Read the article (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/brown-fat-research-opens-up-possibility-of-obesity-tablets/) then tell us what you think...
Title: Re: Brown fat research opens up possibility of obesity tablets
Post by: syhprum on 13/10/2016 22:57:26
About 30 years ago there was a TV program where the researchers made an injection into the brown cell area of a subject and noted the increased heat output, when asked what the injection was they refused to name it as it was too controversial but it has since been apparent that it was nicotine as it is well known that smoking causes weight loss.
When I was a boy midwives recommended mothers to smoke to reduce the size of their babies and reduce the stress of giving birth! 
Title: Re: Brown fat research opens up possibility of obesity tablets
Post by: exothermic on 15/10/2016 13:04:07
Quote from: thedoc
obesity tablets

Scientists are looking into exploiting the body clock to prevent obesity.

"Body clock" tablets?

Zebra fish?

I fail to see how pharmacological-alteration of the circadian rhythm could have any appreciable effects on obesity-prevention.

pharmacological thermogenic-activating agents

Mechanism of Action:
Upregulation of UCP1/PPARα and/or BAT/WAT expression

Result:
Enhanced thermogenic capacity/amplitude/duration
Enhanced thermoregulatory expenditure
Title: Re: Brown fat research opens up possibility of obesity tablets
Post by: exothermic on 15/10/2016 13:37:12
I fail to see how pharmacological-alteration of the circadian rhythm could have any appreciable effects on obesity-prevention.


Still don't get it.....


"Targeting this brake on BAT function could provide a way to increase the daily BAT consumption of glucose and fat stores in a safer and more specific manner than through the more classic, ubiquitous pathway of adrenergic signaling. Furthermore, preventing the BAT clock from actively suppressing calorie-burning at night could potentially increase BAT output without an uncomfortable or dangerous elevation in body temperature that is perhaps more likely with strategies that enhance BAT activity beyond its endogenous maximal capacity. However, whether or not the difference in energy balance from unlocking the circadian inhibition of BAT would be significant enough to mitigate the effects of metabolic syndrome is as yet undetermined (91)."


*If targeting BAT-function through the alteration of circadian rhythm is their approach.... they're not going to achieve any degree of efficacy in terms of obesity-prevention*

~
Title: Re: Brown fat research opens up possibility of obesity tablets
Post by: exothermic on 15/10/2016 15:02:27
Quote from: Circadian Metabolism in the Light of Evolution
Zachary Gerhart-Hines
whether or not the difference in energy balance from unlocking the circadian inhibition of BAT would be significant enough to mitigate the effects of metabolic syndrome is as yet undetermined

Highly doubtful.