Hormone Blocker Found May Prevent Obesity and Diabetes

Filed in archive Developments , Notable , Research on January 4, 2008

The hormone called gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor blockade has been found capable of promoting weight loss, improving insulin resistance and reversing diabetes in an animal model.

GIP is a peptide hormone that is secreted in response to food. It inhibits the secretion of acids stimulates the releases insulin as part of the digestive process in response to food.

It is found in a variety of tissues, including the intestine, heart, stomach, brain and in adipose (fat).

While the significance of its action is largely unknown, its potent and prolonged stimulation after a high-fat diet has led researchers to speculate it may play a key role in metabolizing fat.

The said study, conducted in mice, showed that blocking GIP activity using (Pro3)GIP with established, high fat diet-induced obesity and diabetes results in significant weight loss, improvement of insulin resistance and amelioration of diabetes.

The findings may lead to a new approach to the treatment of obesity and metabolic disturbances - including type 2 diabetes.

Find more details from The American Physiological Society.