Diet | Weightloss | Diabetes
Weight Loss Linked to Common Diabetes Drug
Through the “Anti-Hunger” Molecule
A new study from Stanford Medicine and Harvard Medical School reveals that metformin, a widely prescribed diabetes medication, contributes to moderate weight loss by stimulating the production of a molecule known as lac-phe. This molecule, discovered in 2022, is associated with reduced hunger and was previously linked to exercise-induced appetite suppression.
Study Overview
Published on March 18, 2024, in Nature Metabolism, the research uncovers how metformin influences metabolism through the same pathway activated by vigorous exercise. The study’s lead authors, Jonathan Long, PhD, and Mark Benson, MD, PhD, found that lac-phe, a combination of lactate and phenylalanine, plays a significant role in this process.
Key Findings
- Mechanism of Action: Lac-phe, a molecule abundant after intense exercise, has been found to reduce appetite. Metformin, which helps manage blood sugar by promoting glucose breakdown, also stimulates the production of lac-phe. This contributes to the moderate weight loss observed in many individuals taking the drug.
- Animal and Human Studies: In laboratory mice, metformin increased lac-phe levels, leading to decreased food intake and weight loss. Human studies confirmed that people with Type 2 diabetes who took metformin showed higher levels of lac-phe in their blood compared to before they started the medication.
- Clinical Implications: Metformin’s impact on lac-phe is comparable to the effects seen with vigorous exercise, such as sprinting. This connection suggests that lac-phe could be a target for developing new weight loss treatments.
The Role of Lac-Phe
Lac-phe is produced by intestinal cells and influences appetite and metabolism.
The study showed that when the production of lac-phe was blocked in mice, the appetite-suppressing effects of metformin were negated. This suggests that lac-phe is crucial for the weight loss benefits of the drug.
Future Directions
The findings open up exciting possibilities for optimizing oral medications to better control body weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. The research indicates that understanding how metformin and exercise influence lac-phe production could lead to new weight loss drugs and improve metabolic health.
Collaborative Effort
The study involved contributions from various institutions, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and others. It was supported by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations.
Overall, this research highlights the potential of existing medications like metformin to impact weight management through pathways previously associated only with intense physical activity.
