Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

Ion channel TPC1 identified as key regulator of iron homeostasis

Researchers have deciphered the role of an ion channel in iron homeostasis, opening up new possibilities for treating iron metabolism disorders.

6 Aug 2026

Genetic changes in zebrafish reveal new pathways for back pain

Neck and back pain could be caused by changes in gene activity that trigger the breakdown of the spine's natural shock absorbers, new research suggests.

6 Aug 2026

First-trimester protein intake linked to lower odds of small-for-gestational-age birth

A secondary analysis of 7,067 nulliparous participants found that first-trimester protein intake of 0.8 to less than 1.1 g/kg/day was associated with 22% lower adjusted odds of delivering an SGA infant than intake of at least 1.1 g/kg/day. The association was exploratory, with no dose-response pattern and no confirmation in sensitivity analyses.

6 Aug 2026

New research highlights hidden metabolic risks in non-obese HIV patients

A new UC San Francisco study helps explain why people with HIV remain at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes despite effective suppression of the virus with modern medications.

6 Aug 2026

New review highlights FOXA2's role in glucose regulation pathways

A newly published review highlights the pivotal role of FOXA2, a key transcription factor, in coordinating pancreatic development, maintaining islet cell identity, and regulating glucose homeostasis.

6 Aug 2026

Hypothyroidism linked to higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea

According to a study conducted in Brazil by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) with participants from the São Paulo Epidemiological Sleep Study (EPISONO 2018), people with hypothyroidism experience a higher frequency and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

5 Aug 2026

Expanded DepMap reveals new cancer vulnerabilities through 3D tumor models

For nearly a decade, the Cancer Dependency Map, or DepMap, at the Broad Institute has helped scientists uncover new cancer dependencies - the genetic changes some cancers need to thrive that can potentially be targeted by new cancer drugs.

5 Aug 2026

Targeting lactylation could overcome cancer therapy resistance challenges

A growing body of scientific insight is transforming how cancer treatment resistance is understood, highlighting a powerful cellular process known as lactylation as a central driver of disease progression and therapeutic failure.

5 Aug 2026

HMGCR emerges as a promising target for precision cancer therapies

A growing body of evidence is reshaping how scientists and clinicians understand the role of cancer metabolism, placing the enzyme HMGCR at the center of a rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape.

5 Aug 2026

Biofortified millet improves toddler gut health without adverse effects

Toddlers who ate iron- and zinc-biofortified pearl millet for nine months did not experience adverse effects typically associated with increased iron intake and developed gut microbiomes with distinct and potentially beneficial changes, according to a new study led by researchers at Cornell University's Joan Klein Jacobs Center for Precision Nutrition and Health.

5 Aug 2026

Specialized selenoproteins play critical role in regulating cellular health

A new review highlights the remarkable importance of selenoproteins, a specialized group of molecules that, despite their small size, play a decisive role in shaping cellular fate and maintaining biological balance.

5 Aug 2026

Intertwined cellular processes reshape understanding of diabetes

A deeper understanding of how key cellular processes interact is reshaping perspectives on diabetes and its wide-ranging complications.

5 Aug 2026

Cancer cells exploit liver fat to evade immune system destruction

Liver metastases are among the most common and deadly forms of cancer spread. Now, researchers at VIB and KU Leuven, with international collaborators, have discovered how cancer cells exploit a fatty acid abundant in the liver to evade destruction by the immune system.

5 Aug 2026

Novel drug puts cancer cells under extreme metabolic stress

Cancer cells have a voracious appetite for sugar-using it to fuel their rapid growth. This is why many scientists have tried to develop drugs that block cancer cells' metabolism by cutting off their sugar supply.

5 Aug 2026

Type 2 diabetes linked to more severe menopause symptoms

The type of menopause symptoms, as well as their severity, can differ greatly among women. A number of earlier studies have suggested various reasons for those differences.

5 Aug 2026

Mouse study shows how liraglutide briefly rewires gut bacterial communities

Researchers treated male high-fat-fed mice with liraglutide for 14 days, then tracked fecal bacterial communities after a 7-day washout using 16S rRNA sequencing. Liraglutide shifted the microbiome toward Lactobacillus- and Leptogranulimonas-related taxa while reducing several fermentative taxa, but most changes moved back toward baseline after treatment stopped.

4 Aug 2026

Malaria infection causes permanent damage to the spleen immune cells

Macrophages formed in the bone marrow can only assume the function of embryonal phagocytes, or "scavenger cells," to a certain degree according to a study by the University of Bonn and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity at the University of Melbourne.

4 Aug 2026

Latest hospital rankings place NYU Langone Health at the very top

NYU Langone Health continues to have the most No. 1-ranked specialties and the most top-10 ranked specialties among medical centers in the United States, according to the rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report.

4 Aug 2026

Researchers suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for muscle loss associated with obesity

Obesity has been linked to skeletal muscle loss and deterioration. While M2 macrophages may play a role in regulating muscle function, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

4 Aug 2026

Restricting select amino acids may mimic protein restriction’s healthy aging benefits

A review finds that restricting protein, particularly methionine, isoleucine, and valine, may improve metabolism and influence key aging pathways, largely in experimental models. Short human studies suggest metabolic benefits, but effects on lifespan remain unknown and restriction may harm people with unmet or increased protein needs.

3 Aug 2026