An experimental insulin-like drug that mimics the actions of the hormone prevents mice from becoming obese, according to researchers from New Jersey. Dr Bei B Zhang and her colleagues found that mice ate less, and thus lost weight, when they were injected with insulin-like compounds. Not satisfied with this the researchers set about testing an orally administered insulin-like compound on mice fed a high-fat diet. Unsurprisingly, mice that did not receive the compound rapidly piled on the pounds, however those that were given the compound gained weight at a significantly slower pace. So much so that their weight gain was similar to that of mice fed a normal diet. In addition to its anti-obesity effect, the compound also prevented the mice from developing high blood sugar and insulin resistance, without causing any obvious side effects.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Nature Medicine 2002; 8:179-183
