Scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center have made a discovery that could transform how we approach weight loss and liver health.
They’ve developed a new drug that helps the body burn sugar and fat more effectively while protecting the liver from damage caused by unhealthy diets high in sugar and fat.
To understand this breakthrough, it helps to know how our bodies create energy. Inside our cells, there are tiny structures called mitochondria, often described as the cell’s power plants. They convert food into the energy we need to live.
For mitochondria to work properly, certain nutrients are crucial. One of these is magnesium, which helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, and bone health.
However, the researchers found something surprising: too much magnesium inside mitochondria can actually slow down energy production.
To explore this further, the team studied mice by removing a gene that normally allows magnesium to enter mitochondria. Without this gene, the mice were able to burn sugar and fat more efficiently.
Remarkably, even when these mice were fed a high-sugar, high-fat diet, they stayed slim and avoided liver damage—a common problem with such diets.
Building on this discovery, the researchers developed a drug called CPACC. This drug mimics the effect of removing the magnesium-transporting gene.
When given to mice, CPACC improved their ability to burn calories, kept them from gaining weight, and prevented liver damage, even on unhealthy diets.
This is an exciting step forward, as it suggests the drug could one day help people who struggle with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems caused by poor diets.
Obesity is a widespread condition where excess body fat harms health. It is often measured using body mass index (BMI), with a BMI of 30 or higher considered obese.
Obesity raises the risk of serious conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even certain cancers. It can also make daily life more difficult and lead to discrimination.
Many factors contribute to obesity, including genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Diets high in calories and fat, combined with lack of physical activity, are significant contributors.
Treating obesity often involves lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and exercising more. In some cases, medications or surgery may be recommended. However, many people find these solutions challenging to stick with long-term.
This is where new treatments like CPACC could make a difference. By improving how the body processes energy, drugs like CPACC could support healthier weight loss and help prevent complications of obesity.
A high-fat diet, common in modern lifestyles, is one where over 30% of daily calories come from fat.
While fat is an essential nutrient, consuming too much—especially saturated and trans fats—can increase the risk of heart disease and lead to weight gain. Excess fat can also cause liver damage, which is often linked to obesity and poor diets.
The discovery of CPACC is an important reminder that scientific research can lead to innovative solutions for health problems. By focusing on how the body processes energy, scientists are finding new ways to fight diseases linked to obesity and poor diets.
This study, led by Travis R. Madaris and colleagues, was published in Cell Reports. While it’s still early days for CPACC, the researchers have filed a patent and are continuing to develop the drug.
If it proves successful in human trials, it could change the lives of millions who struggle with obesity and diet-related health issues.
For now, maintaining a balanced diet and staying active remain the best ways to stay healthy, but promising advances like CPACC show that help may soon be on the way.
If you care about weight loss, please read studies that hop extract could reduce belly fat in overweight people, and early time-restricted eating could help lose weight.
For more health information, please see recent studies about a simple path to weight loss, and results showing a non-invasive treatment for obesity and diabetes.
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