The researchers said their findings will lead to the development of new treatments to control weight and promote health.
A survey conducted by scientists from Stanford Medicine discovered a link between diet THE genetic and the body weight after carrying out studies on mouse samples.
The work focused on exploration the link between a gene called PTER and an amino acid called taurine which has been associated with weight reduction and improved performance in resistance exercises.
According to the researchers, the relationship they found is present a metabolic pathway that regulates body weight independently of other specific treatments so that these measures could possibly be applied together in the future.
Jonathan Long, a pathologist and author, explained in a statement to Stanford that “This is an additional branch of a very complex system of regulation of body weight and feeding.” .
“We all want to know, ‘What should I eat? When should I eat it? How does it affect me?’ But many diet-based studies provide confusing information. We try to answer this question in a more concrete way. : starting with molecules, then pathways, and then going back to physiology,” he added.
The research was published in the journal Nature on August 7, 2024, while postdoctoral researcher Wei Wei is listed as the lead author.
Also specialists from other institutions collaborated academics, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California, Irvine, and the Arc Institute in Palo Alto.
What researchers discovered about the relationship between diet, genetics and body weight
The authors They studied taurine a component found in protein-rich foods like meat and seafood.
As they explained, in general terms, found that supplementing mice with this amino acid can reduce body weight and improve performance. in exercise.
On the other hand, Mice genetically engineered to have low levels of taurine exhibited muscle atrophy and decreased performance. to exercise.
However, still They do not know exactly how these effects are generated. .
In Long’s words, “Taurine does all sorts of things in our bodies and is metabolized in different ways.” So it’s a “complicated” subject.
However, he assured that Their findings are promising. .
“Before this survey, we were not sure “Was N-acetyltaurine simply an inactive, inert byproduct of taurine metabolism, or did it actually play a specific role in how taurine affects our bodies,” Long said in a conversation with the site. Stanford University .
Under this line he summarizes: “The most interesting discovery is that N-acetyltaurine is really important and actively participates in the processes of our body. This was determined by finding a special enzyme called PTER that specifically breaks down N-acetyltaurine, thus demonstrating that The presence and levels of N-acetyltaurine are tightly controlled by our genes and biochemical pathways “.
“In addition, the gene responsible for the production of the PTER enzyme had already been associated with body weight in large-scale genetic studies. Taking advantage of this information, We were able to demonstrate a clear and striking link between N-acetyltaurine, the PTER enzyme and body weight regulation . “This is particularly important when there is a high intake of taurine in the diet,” he added.
In this sense, he commented that in his experiences found that “mice lacking the PTER enzyme accumulate N-acetyltaurine and show greater sensitivity to the anti-obesity effects of taurine.” either through dietary supplements or in response to resistance exercises.
Furthermore, he said, “direct administration of N-acetyltaurine to normal mice can result in reduced food intake and decreased body weight, which suggests potential new pathway to control obesity “.
Long explained that until the research was published no adverse signs were identified .
He stressed, however, that “Understanding the possible side effects is crucial for the therapeutic translation of this pathway in humans” .
Today, the object of his investigations focuses on answering “two important questions” .
One of them is: ““What does N-acetyltaurine produce? We have some evidence that there are also specific genes and biochemical pathways responsible for the production of this metabolite, but the specific identity of these pathways is unknown. . “We’re trying to figure that out now.”
“The second area of intervention is more applied and broader. Since dietary taurine and its conversion to N-acetyltaurine appear to positively influence health, A big question is whether we can deliberately manipulate this pathway to combat obesity or take advantage of taurine’s beneficial effects on other health problems. such as brain health, muscle strength or general physical performance.
In the expert’s words, “this could involve the development of drugs that enhance the production or function of N-acetyltaurine to reproduce or amplify the health benefits of taurine.
“Essentially, research is progressing not only towards understanding these biochemical processes, but also towards understand how they can be used for therapeutic purposes to improve human health “, the Stanford academic stressed.
And while he acknowledged that it is a complex area of study, he said that with the team are “excited to better understand how this pathway affects appetite and body weight regulation” .
It is good to remember that If you have any doubts about your health, it is always advisable to consult a specialist to assess your case. and the means to remedy them.
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
