Breakthrough Discovery: Natural Compound Found to Effectively Suppress Appetite and Aid Weight Loss
- Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University have discovered a new compound called BHB-Phe.
- BHB, known as a fuel source produced by the liver, increases in the body after fasting or exercise.
- Long and his team at Stanford found that BHB also plays a role in a unique metabolic pathway.
BHB-Phe: A New Compound for Weight Management
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University have discovered a new compound called BHB-Phe. This compound helps regulate appetite and body weight. It works by activating specific neurons in the brain.
BHB, known as a fuel source produced by the liver, increases in the body after fasting or exercise. This has led scientists to explore its potential uses for obesity and diabetes.
How BHB-Phe Affects Metabolism
Dr. Jonathan Z. Long and his team at Stanford found that BHB also plays a role in a unique metabolic pathway. Here, it joins with an enzyme called CNDP2 to influence metabolism. This combination affects body weight in animal models.
Dr. Yong Xu and his team at Baylor studied how BHB-Phe impacts mice. They discovered that BHB-Phe activates neurons in the hypothalamus and brainstem, which suppress appetite and reduce weight. Mice that could not produce BHB-Phe due to genetic modification ate more and gained weight.
Different Pathways for BHB-Phe and Lac-Phe
Xu noted that BHB-Phe and another compound, Lac-Phe, activate different neurons. Most neurons affected by these compounds do not overlap. This suggests they might use different mechanisms to influence feeding behavior.
These findings highlight a new area of research into BHB-Phe and its connection to obesity. Further studies are necessary to understand these mechanisms better.
Dr. Long expressed that this research opens up future possibilities. For instance, people might use BHB-Phe to lose weight without needing to limit carbohydrates in their diets.
Reference
Moya-Garzon, M. D., et al. “A β-hydroxybutyrate shunt pathway generates anti-obesity ketone metabolites.” Cell, November 12, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.10.032.