Intestinal Chemical May Suppress Appetite and Fight Obesity
A biochemical produced by the small intestine every time we eat a fatty meal and which signals the brain to suppress appetite may be the answer to the obesity epidemic, a recent study suggests. Researchers at Yale University who investigated the biochemical, known as N- acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE), found that mice and rats injected with it ate less and lost weight. The scientists, who published their work in the journal Cell, theorized that NAPE curbed appetite by suppressing the activity of neurons in a brain region known as the hypothalamus.
In the study, the experimental animals' NAPE levels rose when they ate a fatty meal but not one of protein or carbohydrates. When the researchers injected NAPE into the rodents' abdomens, and again when it was injected into their brains, their appetite was reduced. This showed that NAPE acts directly on brain cells.
Moreover, when the rodents received the substance for five days, their lowered food consumption induced a loss of 10 percent of their body weight. "Chronic NAPE treatment is well tolerated and can cause weight loss by a reduction of food intake, we would have strong impetus to move toward human NAPE trials," said lead author Gerald Shulman, a professor of medicine and cellular and molecular physiology at Yale and a scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical School.
Obesity is growing like wildfire worldwide, and currently is at epidemic proportions in the United States, where some 66 percent of adults are overweight or obese, and 16 percent of children, aged 6 to 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And gastric-bypass surgery is one of the fastest-growing medical procedures in the country, the long-term complications of which are still unknown. Shulman's team plans to shift its experimentation with NAPE to primates. If the results are promising, the group will proceed to studies on humans.
Disclaimer
Featured Doctors
Laparoscopic surgery Yonkers, NY
The Columbia University Center for Obesity Surgery at Lawrence Hospital
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Lap Band Surgery Upper West Side Manhattan
Marc Bessler, M.D.
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
Manhattan, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Bariatric Surgeons Yonkers, NY
The Columbia University Center for Obesity Surgery at Lawrence Hospital
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Stomach Stapling Westchester, NY
The Columbia University Center for Obesity Surgery at Lawrence Hospital
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Pathology Testing Services Westchester County, New York
Outpatient Services | Laboratory & Pathology Services
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 281-4612
Columbia Obesity Weight Loss Surgery Manhattan, NYC
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
New York City, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Obesity Surgeon Uptown Manhattan, NYC
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
Manhattan, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Obesity Surgery Brooklyn, NYC
John L Holup, DO
Beth Israel Medical Center - PACC
10 E Union Square Ste., 2N
New York, NY 10003
Call: (888) 762-2167
Thyroid Specialist Westchester, NY
Center for Advanced Surgery | Colorectal, Gastrointestinal and Endoc
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Find a Bariatric Surgeon Manhattan
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
Manhattan, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Weight Loss Surgery Brooklyn
John L Holup, DO
Beth Israel Medical Center - PACC
10 E Union Square Ste., 2N
New York, NY 10003
Call: (888) 762-2167
Diagnostic Laboratory Services Westchester County, New York
Outpatient Services | Laboratory & Pathology Services
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 281-4612
LAP BAND Surgery Yonkers, NY
The Columbia University Center for Obesity Surgery at Lawrence Hospital
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Diagnostic Laboratory Services Westchester County, New York
Outpatient Services | Laboratory & Pathology Services
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 281-4612
Weight Loss Surgery Bronx, New York City
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
New York City, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Metabolic Weight Loss Bronx, New York City
Columbia University Medical Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
New York City, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Gastric Bypass Manhattan, NYC
Elliot Goodman
Beth Israel Medical Center
6th Floor 1st Ave & 16th St
New York City, NY 10003
Call: 888-351-8607
LAP-BAND NY
John L Holup, DO
Beth Israel Medical Center - PACC
10 E Union Square Ste., 2N
New York, NY 10003
Call: (888) 762-2167
Obesity Surgery Upper West Side Manhattan, NYC
Marc Bessler, M.D.
Center for Metabolic & Weight Loss Surgery
Herbert Irving Pavilion,161 Fort Washington Ave, 6th Fl., Room 620
Manhattan, NY 10032
Call: 888-838-9148
Pathology Testing Services Westchester County, New York
Outpatient Services | Laboratory & Pathology Services
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 281-4612
Specialities
- Acupuncture
- Alternative Medicine
- Bariatric Surgery
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Surgery
- Cancer Treatment
- Cardiology
- Chiropractic
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Facial Enhancement
- Fertility Treatment
- Foot Specialist
- Foot Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- General Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Hair Replacement
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Infertility Treatment
- Integrative Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- LASIK
- Laser Hair Removal
- Medical Editorial Board
- Medical Spa
- Medical Testing
- Neurology
- Neuropathy
- Nursing Home Services
- Nutrition and Diet
- Obstetrician & Gynecology
- Oncology & Cancer
- Oncology Center
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Orthopedics
- Pain Management
- Physical Therapy
- Plastic Surgery
- Podiatry
- Spinal Decompression
- Spine Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Thoracic Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Vein Surgery
- Weight Loss