Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

Can GLP-1 drugs slow neurodegeneration? New review finds promising signals but limited clinical proof

This review examines how GLP-1 receptor agonists may influence neurodegenerative disease biology through metabolic, inflammatory, mitochondrial, and proteostasis pathways. Evidence from mechanistic, preclinical, and early clinical studies suggests potential neuroprotective effects, but definitive disease-modifying benefit remains unproven.

17 Feb 2026

Does intermittent fasting help you lose more weight? Evidence review finds no clear advantage

A Cochrane systematic review of 22 randomized trials involving 1,995 adults with overweight or obesity found intermittent fasting produces weight loss comparable to traditional calorie restriction. Evidence suggests little additional benefit for quality of life or adverse effects, with overall certainty ranging from low to moderate and long-term effects still unclear.

17 Feb 2026

A yeast-derived genetic tool offers hope for mitochondrial disorders and cancer

Nucleotide synthesis-the production of the basic components of DNA and RNA-is essential for cell growth and division.

17 Feb 2026

Bioengineered E. coli bacteria can now produce rhododendron-derived drugs

Bioengineered E. coli bacteria can now produce a group of compounds with anticancer, anti-HIV, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities.

17 Feb 2026

Do cocoa flavanols influence heart and fatty liver risk factors?

A recent Nutrients review examined whether cocoa-rich dark chocolate influences cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease risk factors through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and endothelial effects. Evidence suggests modest improvements in biomarkers, but most data come from short-term studies, so definitive clinical benefits remain unproven.

16 Feb 2026

Study reveals a new facet of how pancreatic cancer cells regulate autophagy

A feature of pancreatic cancer cells' surroundings determines whether they grow fast or become resistant to chemotherapy, a new study shows.

16 Feb 2026

HER2 gastric cancer: Unraveling resistance at single-cell resolution

HER2-positive gastric cancer accounts for a substantial proportion of advanced cases and has long been treated with HER2-targeted therapies.

16 Feb 2026

Role of food nutrients in reducing oxidative stress linked to micro- and nanoplastics

This narrative review examines how micro- and nanoplastics may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction, including potential links with diabetes. It highlights plant-derived nutrients that activate the Nrf2 pathway as a possible strategy to enhance cellular stress resilience, although most evidence remains preclinical.

15 Feb 2026

ARVCF gene deletion leads to abnormalities in reward behavior

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a key brain region for dopamine production and the regulation of reward-related behaviors.

13 Feb 2026

Osteoprotegerin links bone metabolism to cardiovascular disease

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a glycoprotein in the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, regulates bone metabolism by suppressing the formation and activation of osteoclasts.

13 Feb 2026

Parkinson's-related weight loss reflects a failure of the body's energy-producing pathways

Weight loss is a well-recognized but poorly understood non-motor feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Many patients progressively lose weight as the disease advances, often alongside worsening motor symptoms and quality of life.

13 Feb 2026

Magnesium lower fasting blood sugar in older adults

Magnesium boosts fasting glucose control in older adults with deficiency, but preventing diabetes progression may need more than just mineral correction.

13 Feb 2026

Aligning overnight fasting with sleep improves heart health

A new Northwestern Medicine study has personalized overnight fasting by aligning it with individuals' circadian sleep-wake rhythm - an important regulator of cardiovascular and metabolic function - without changing their caloric intake.

12 Feb 2026

Blood omics data forecasts trauma outcomes with high accuracy

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz have developed a way to predict how trauma patients will recover, days before complications come to fruition, by analyzing the molecules in their blood.

11 Feb 2026

New roadmap integrates aging into Parkinson disease models

Even though aging is the largest risk factor for Parkinson's disease, the majority of research aimed at taming the able neurodegenerativeincur motor disease has largely left aging out of the mix.

11 Feb 2026

Sustained high progesterone during pregnancy can improve menstrual cyclicity in PCOS patients

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6%−20% of reproductive-aged women, and is commonly accompanied by irregular menstrual cycles and anovulatory infertility.

11 Feb 2026

Night-time traffic noise may affect metabolic health

A new study has found that nighttime noise exposure is associated with changes in blood cholesterol and lipid-related metabolites in adults, which are known risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases.

11 Feb 2026

Stress hormones rewire immune system during periods of food scarcity

When food is scarce, stress hormones direct the immune system to operate in "low power" mode to preserve immune function while conserving energy, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

10 Feb 2026

New guidance for the diagnosis and management of inherited hyperbilirubinemia

Inherited hyperbilirubinemia, encompassing Gilbert syndrome, Crigler-Najjar syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, and Rotor syndrome, represents a spectrum of disorders rooted in genetic defects affecting bilirubin metabolism and transport.

10 Feb 2026