Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

Researchers uncover molecular switch controlling nutrient-driven cell growth

Cells carry their own growth switches. When enough nutrients-amino acids in particular-are available, cells flip this switch on and begin to grow. Researchers at KAIST and Yonsei University have now uncovered the molecular mechanism by which amino acid signals activate this cellular growth switch.

26 Jul 2026

Experts review evidence behind updated protein intake recommendations

A new Perspective published today in The Journal of Nutrition, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), reviews the evidence supporting protein recommendations in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and identifies areas where additional research could strengthen future dietary guidance.

24 Jul 2026

Taiwan Biobank data reveals ongoing natural selection in living humans

For more than a century, scientists have sought to reconstruct human evolution using diverse lines of evidence, including fossils, genetic variation across populations, and ancient DNA.

24 Jul 2026

Two interconnected signaling pathways drive papillary thyroid carcinoma progression

A new research perspective was published in Volume 13 of Oncoscience on June 3, 2026, titled "The dual axis of tumorigenesis: MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways in papillary thyroid carcinoma."

24 Jul 2026

NYU Abu Dhabi scientists discover new vulnerability in malaria parasite

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have discovered that the malaria parasite relies on a specific type of fat to survive and multiply within the human host, uncovering a previously unknown vulnerability that could help guide future treatments.

24 Jul 2026

Chinese researchers map epigenetic control of congenital heart defects

The findings have direct implications for clinical practice and future research. For genetic screening, the study provides a clear priority: CHD7 for outflow‑tract defects, CHD4 for chamber‑patterning anomalies, and CHD8 for ventricular dysfunction.

24 Jul 2026

Cambridge scientists solve brain puzzle behind popular obesity drugs

Cambridge scientists have solved the mystery of why both stimulating and blocking a particular 'switch' in the brain can help people lose weight – findings which could help boost the effectiveness of obesity drugs.

24 Jul 2026

Study uncovers biological differences behind co-occurring conditions of Down syndrome

In a groundbreaking new study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Colorado Anschutz Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome (Crnic Institute) discovered unique biological processes altered among individuals with Down syndrome who have different sets of co-occurring conditions.

23 Jul 2026

Targeting acid ceramidase could improve healthy aging and longevity

Our population is aging. The United Nations reports that by 2050, the number of people over the age of 85 on our planet is set to triple.

23 Jul 2026

Endotrophin may reveal metabolic risks linked to changing body fat

Researchers have identified a biological marker that rises and falls as body fat changes, offering new insight into how weight gain and weight loss may influence metabolic health.

23 Jul 2026

Evidence shows artificial sweeteners cannot be judged as a single group

This narrative review found that non-nutritive artificial sweeteners have compound-specific and context-dependent associations with gut microbiota, metabolism, and health-related outcomes. Evidence does not support treating all sweeteners as uniformly harmful or safe, with human findings often limited or inconsistent.

23 Jul 2026

MEK inhibition could limit T cell exhaustion and give a boost to immunotherapy

A major pillar of cancer immunotherapy involves stimulating T cells, the specialized killers of the immune system, to attack tumors.

23 Jul 2026

Review expands the role of selenium metabolism in ferroptosis

For decades, selenium has been recognized as an essential micronutrient, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)-a selenium-containing enzyme-has been widely regarded as the central guardian against ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by lipid peroxidation.

23 Jul 2026

Lifestyle changes improve MASLD by suppressing key molecular pathway

Lifestyle modification is the cornerstone of managing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a growing cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.

23 Jul 2026

Emerging PPAR therapies offer new hope for primary biliary cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis is a rare autoimmune disease that affects the liver and can progress to cirrhosis. It occurs when the immune system attacks the small bile ducts within the liver. As a result, bile builds up, leading to inflammation and progressive liver damage. Although a first-line treatment exists, 40% of patients do not respond adequately to it or cannot tolerate it, so new treatment options need to be developed.

23 Jul 2026

Study finds greater social jetlag linked to a later eating pattern

In a 14-day study of 101 healthy UK adults, greater social jetlag was associated with a later distribution of energy intake, particularly greater late-evening intake among women. The effects were modest, varied by sex and day type, and did not establish whether total daily energy intake differed between groups.

23 Jul 2026

Urbanization reshapes gut microbiomes across diverse South Asian communities

Urbanization is one of the most consequential demographic shifts of the 21st century. As communities move from traditional or rural to urbanized ways of life, changes in diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposures can influence many aspects of human biology and health.

22 Jul 2026