Homone adiponectin increases metabolism, causes weight loss in mice

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Tuesday, April 27, 2004 9:04 am Email this article
Adiponectin, a hormone produced by fat cells, when injected into the brain of mice causes weight loss by increasing metabolism according to a soon-to-be-published study from Rexford S. Ahima of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

20 PERCENT WEIGHT LOSS

Mice given the largest dose lost about 20 percent of their body weight in a few days.

DOES NOT AFFECT APPETITE

Adiponectin does not appear to affect appetite; mice given the hormone continued to eat as much as the mice given a placebo.

ROLE IN WEIGHT CONTROL NOT CLEAR

It isn’t clear what role adiponectin play in weight control, however. Several research groups have created mice that lack the hormone, but these animals were not noticeable heavier or thinner than normal mice.

Since dieters often regain lost weight partially because of a drop in metabolism, Ahima believes a drug based on adiponectin could help people maintain their weight loss.

The study will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Nature Medicine.

REFERENCE

Travis, J. Fat Chance: Hormone boosts metabolic rate, induces weight loss in mice. Science News, 2004 Apr 17, 165(16):245.

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