Scientists have discovered that deleting a single gene in fat tissue can significantly increase the body’s fitness, leading to burning calories without the need for food. The study focused on a protein called PHD2, which is found in brown adipose tissue—a type of fat that is activated in cold conditions to generate heat by breaking down blood sugar and fat molecules.
The study, led by scientists from Nottingham Trent University and the University of Edinburgh, aims to examine the link between cold environments, faster metabolic rates, and weight loss, something seen at high altitudes where oxygen levels are low. The researchers found that by removing the PHD2 protein, fat cells can burn calories in both mice and human cells without being exposed to cold temperatures.
Dr. Zoi Michailidou, lead authorexplained that reducing the effects of the PHD2 protein could break the link between obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes. The findings of this study suggest that targeting this protein may help develop new strategies to promote weight loss by increasing metabolism, which may protect against obesity-related metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
Although the research is still in its early stages, scientists are hopeful that further studies in humans may lead to other ways to lose weight that do not require continuous dieting.
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