This Molecule Boosts Workout Weight Loss
Exercise is crucial for weight loss, but it seems to be more effective for some people than others. A new study focusing on slight variations in a class of metabolism-related molecules might shed light on this discrepancy.
The molecule in question is PGC-1⍺, a protein involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats. Although previously linked to exercise and weight, its exact mechanisms were unclear.
In new research, a team from Japan found that multiple variants of PGC-1⍺, specifically PGC-1αb and PGC-1αc, play a significant role in exercise and weight loss. Kobe University biomedical scientist Kazuhiro Nomura and his team discovered that increased expression of these variants in response to exercise signals the body to boost energy output.
Testing Reveals Importance of PGC-1αb and PGC-1αc in Muscle Metabolism and Obesity Prevention
The researchers tested mice and 10 male human subjects on treadmills and exercise bikes, respectively, and took tissue samples to analyze muscle metabolism, fat burning, and oxygen consumption. Mice lacking PGC-1αb and PGC-1αc proteins became obese and had high insulin levels, highlighting the proteins’ importance.
In human tests, including men with insulin intolerance (a condition that reduces PGC-1α levels), exercise was found to increase PGC-1αb and PGC-1αc levels, leading to more efficient metabolism.
These findings suggest that our ability to produce PGC-1αb and PGC-1αc is linked to how easily we maintain weight loss, a connection anticipated by scientists based on earlier studies.
“The hypothesis that genes in skeletal muscle determine susceptibility to obesity was correct,” says Ogawa Wataru, an endocrinologist from Kobe University in Japan.
As with any new discovery, the full implications are not yet clear, necessitating further research on larger and more diverse populations.
Understanding Variations in Exercise-to-Weight-Loss Ratios
However, this insight helps explain why the exercise-to-weight-loss ratio varies among individuals. While many factors are at play, if the activity of PGC-1αb and PGC-1αc can be artificially managed in the future, it could lead to new weight loss treatments.
“If a substance that increases the b and c versions can be found, this could lead to the development of drugs that enhance energy expenditure during exercise or even without exercise,” says Ogawa.
“Such drugs could potentially treat obesity independently of dietary restrictions.”
Read the original article on: Science Alert
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