Experimental compound helps burn fat without muscle loss
A decades-old compound may point to a new way of treating obesity by making the body burn more energy rather than simply reducing appetite. In mice, TOFA increased energy use by as much as 18%, reduced body fat without significant muscle loss, and improved blood sugar, triglycerides, and fatty liver disease. It also produced stronger results when combined with GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy,…
GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy, have become popular for managing obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. However, these drugs can cause side effects such as nausea, gastrointestinal issues, and muscle loss. A research team at UC Berkeley is exploring a novel approach to treating these conditions by increasing metabolic activity.
Their compound, 5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid (TOFA), works by inhibiting lipid production and activating genes that promote fat use for energy. In mouse studies, TOFA improved insulin sensitivity, reduced triglyceride levels, and alleviated fatty liver disease symptoms without causing significant muscle loss. TOFA behaves differently than other ACC inhibitors, as it activates PPARα and PPARδ receptors, leading to increased energy use without physical activity or temperature increase.
In combination with GLP-1 drugs, TOFA showed enhanced benefits in weight loss, glucose control, and triglyceride reduction compared to individual treatments. Further research is needed to determine TOFA's safety and efficacy in humans, but a company called ReRx Therapeutics has been established to advance this research toward potential human applications.
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- Experimental compound helps burn fat without muscle loss sciencedaily.com
- Experimental Drug Makes Obese Mice Burn Fat Without Losing Muscle – Or Eating Less sciencealert.com
