SCIENTISTS working on a fat-loss pill that doesn’t require dieting have made a major breakthrough in their research.
Boffins at the University of Texas have been testing the “game-changing” drug – called CPACC – that wards off weight gain on mice.
GettyScientists are one step closer to developing the wonder drug[/caption]
Experts hope it will be revolutionary in the fight against obesity, as it allows users to shed some pounds without altering their diet.
In theory, people could scoff as much junk food as they like without the fear of added health risks or not fitting into their jeans.
The wonder pill increases the body’s metabolism to help it break down sugar and fats more efficiently.
CPACC inhibits how magnesium flows through the mitochondria – the part of the cell which is responsible for producing energy and burning calories.
Researchers in the US found that an excess of magnesium seems to slow the mitochondria’s ability to produce energy.
Deleting the protein-coding gene that controls the flow of magnesium, MRS2, reduces the amount which enters the cell.
This essentially increases metabolism, which allows the body to process fats and sugars more efficiently.
Scientists initially trialled their theory by editing the genes in mice to impede the flow of magnesium.
They discovered that the rodents remained thin despite chowing down on high-fat Western diets.
CPACC mimics this gene alteration – and experts hope it has the same results on humans.
After 20 weeks of gorging on high-calorie grub, scientists gave half of the mice the drug and the others with a placebo.
The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, found that the pill allowed the animals to stay “slim” even when eating the same high-fat diet.
As well as reducing their weight, the mice also boasted lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels compared to the control group.
It suggests that the drug also combats all the health consequences of a bad diet.
Researchers noted that mice who weren’t given the drug but were fed the same high-calorie diet saw an increase in body fat.
‘GAME-CHANGING’ DRUG
Dr Madesh Muniswamy, who led the research, said: “When we give this drug to the mice for a short time, they start losing weight.
“They all become slim,” the biochemist from the University of Texas explained.
“A drug that can reduce the risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as heart attack and stroke, and also reduce the incidence of liver cancer, which can follow fatty liver disease, will make a huge impact.
“We will continue its development.”
His team has filed a patent application for the drug and intends to carry out human trials in the next few years.
Doctoral student Travis Madaris said the pill would “definitely be game-changing for people that struggle with losing weight.”
He told the New York Post: “The idea is that we could intervene in someone that is starting to gain weight, and their doctors are like, ‘You need to start exercising and eating healthier’.
“This could be an early intervention for people that are becoming obese.”
Although the mice consumed a poor diet during the study, boffins say CPACC would ideally be paired with healthy eating and exercise.
However, there are still “a lot of steps” to overcome, as more rigorous research will need to be completed before it is approved.