Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

Experts urge shift from weight focus to patient centered care

Focusing solely on achieving weight loss for people with a high body mass index (BMI) may do more harm than good, argue experts in The BMJ today.

26 Jun 2025

Missing gut bacteria in US babies triples allergy and eczema risk

US infants lacking Bifidobacterium in their gut microbiome face significant changes in microbial composition, metabolic function, and immune-related health risks. This large, nationally representative study links early-life Bifidobacterium deficits to a three-fold increase in eczema, allergy, or asthma by age two.

25 Jun 2025

Gut microbe emerges as a promising tool in the fight against COVID-19

Researchers found that Akkermansia muciniphila boosts lung-specific antiviral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mice by modulating the gut–lung axis. This commensal gut bacterium shows promise as a potential biomarker and biotherapeutic candidate for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

25 Jun 2025

Do omega-3 supplements boost athletic performance?

Combining omega-3 supplementation with resistance training significantly improved lipid profiles, inflammation markers, antioxidant capacity, and neuromuscular performance in healthy men. While group × time effects weren’t significant, within-group gains suggest real physiological benefits.

25 Jun 2025

Rice University recruits leading biophysicist with CPRIT support

Rice University's Department of Chemistry will soon welcome Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede, who will enhance the university's research efforts in biophysics when she joins the faculty as a professor July 1, backed by a $6 million recruitment grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).

25 Jun 2025

TET1 identified as key regulator in cancer and chronic disease

Recent findings shed new light on the critical role of TET1, a pivotal player in epigenetic regulation, in the development and progression of various clinical diseases.

25 Jun 2025

Is aspartame safe for blood sugar? Study answers the big question

A major systematic review and meta-analysis found that aspartame has little to no effect on blood glucose, insulin, or appetite-regulating hormones in humans. Evidence certainty is very low, with no significant long-term metabolic impact identified.

25 Jun 2025

How a novel reaction in E. coli helps recycle plastic into paracetamol

Researchers have demonstrated that E. coli can perform a biocompatible Lossen rearrangement, enabling phosphate-catalysed conversion of synthetic substrates into valuable compounds. This approach allows engineered bacteria to upcycle PET plastic waste into paracetamol, highlighting a novel intersection of chemistry and biotechnology.

24 Jun 2025

Korean scientists uncover how aging spreads through the blood

For the first time in the world, a Korean research team discovered how cellular aging can spread systemically through the bloodstream-offering new insights and a potential therapeutic strategy to combat aging-related decline.

24 Jun 2025

Once-monthly obesity injection shows double-digit weight loss in major clinical trial

Researchers found that once-monthly maridebart cafraglutide led to substantial weight loss and improved glycemic control in adults with obesity, with or without diabetes, in a phase 2 randomized trial. The drug demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and supports further study in phase 3 trials.

24 Jun 2025

Study identifies potential way to slow or block progression of age-related macular degeneration

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis identifies a possible way to slow or block progression of age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in people over age 50.

24 Jun 2025

Excess trace metal levels may trigger gestational diabetes

Excess micronutrients in early pregnancy may raise gestational diabetes risks. Study links essential metal levels to GDM onset, urging a rethink on supplements.

24 Jun 2025

Experimental drug promotes weight loss by heating fat instead of suppressing appetite

An article published in the journal Nature Metabolism presents an experimental drug that stimulates adipose tissue cells to produce heat through a process known as thermogenesis, thereby promoting weight loss.

24 Jun 2025

Next generation CAR-T cells push the boundaries of lymphoma treatment

CAR-T cells, which are genetically programmed to specifically recognize and kill target cells, have altered the therapeutic landscape of lymphoma.

23 Jun 2025

New oral drug shows promise for type 2 diabetes and obesity without side effects

Lower blood sugar and increased fat burning – without negatively affecting appetite or muscle mass. These are some of the most promising effects of a new potential drug treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity, according to a new study published in the journal Cell by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University.

23 Jun 2025

Use of sleep heart rate patterns to forecast diabetes risk in pregnancy

This study highlights the potential of heart rate variability as an early indicator of gestational diabetes, facilitating proactive healthcare in pregnancy.

23 Jun 2025

Zebrafish study reveals hidden dangers in recycled plastic

A single pellet of recycled plastic can contain over 80 different chemicals. A new study with researchers from University of Gothenburg and Leipzig shows that recycled polyethylene plastic can leach chemicals into water causing impacts in the hormone systems and lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae.

23 Jun 2025

Assessment of insulin resistance using TyG index flags rapid cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients

Insulin resistance detected by routine triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index can flag people with early Alzheimer's who are four times more likely to present rapid cognitive decline, according to new research presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025.

22 Jun 2025

Men lose more weight than women on the keto diet, new study reveals why

Men lose more weight than women on a ketogenic diet, according to a comprehensive review in Frontiers in Nutrition. Sex differences in hormones, metabolism, and fat distribution influence the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet for obesity.

22 Jun 2025

Flies on dairy farms act as hidden carriers of superbugs and zoonotic threats

Researchers used deep metagenomic sequencing to trace zoonotic pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes from cow manure into the guts of muscid flies on a French dairy farm. Findings reveal that flies not only carry but may amplify dangerous microbes, underscoring public health risks.

22 Jun 2025