A large number of studies, both
in humans and in animals, have looked at the mechanisms required for white
adipose tissue to work as brown adipose tissue. However, until recently we were
not aware of any studies that had considered whether there were any treatments
that could affect this process. Now, a team of researchers is suggesting that a
drug that is being trialled for thyroid treatment may be useful in this
process.
It is commonly known that humans
have two types of adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue and white adipose
tissue. Whilst the former helps to protect against obesity, the latter
contributes to it. Essentially, brown adipose tissue works more efficiently
than white adipose tissue at burning energy. The faster energy burning in brown
adipose tissue has been attributed to a process called thermogenesis. As such it should come as little surprise that
researchers would be keen to find a way to exploit the potential relationship between
thermogenesis and treatments.
The current findings were
presented at The Endocrine Society's 95th
Annual Meeting, and are yet to be published. The researchers used an
experimental drug that goes under the name of GC-01 in obese mice and found that
it increased their metabolism by more than 60%, which also led to significant
weight loss. Based on this, the researchers concluded that CG-01 could be
useful in inducing thermogenesis in white adipose tissue, which in turn would
aid fat being converted into energy.
Although
these findings are intriguing, the presentation raises more questions than
answers. There are several aspects of the current report that need to be put
into perspective. For instance, the finding that it increased metabolism by 60
% may change once it is put into perspective in terms of what it means
statistically. Similarly, these 60% are likely to refer to beiging of white
adipose tissue, which has a small effect on making white adipose tissue work
like brown adipose tissue. It does not imply that white adipose tissue starts
to work completely like brown adipose tissue.