Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

UCLA researchers show that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function

UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

29 May 2013

Patented nicotinamide riboside launched by Chromadex

ChromaDex Corporation, an innovative natural products company that provides proprietary, science-based solutions and ingredients to the dietary supplement, food & beverage, animal health, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, announced today the launch of NIAGEN, its novel, patented, branded nicotinamide riboside.

29 May 2013

Asfotase alfa gets Breakthrough Therapy designation from FDA for treatment of patients with HPP

Alexion Pharma International Sàrl, a subsidiary of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to asfotase alfa for the treatment of patients with hypophosphatasia (HPP) whose first signs or symptoms occurred prior to 18 years of age, including perinatal-, infantile-, and juvenile-onset forms of the disease.

28 May 2013

Synthetic compound derived from sea anemone toxin shows potential to treat obesity

Scientists at UC Irvine reported this week that a synthetic compound ShK-186, originally derived from a sea anemone toxin, has been found to enhance metabolic activity and shows potential as a treatment for obesity and insulin resistance.

28 May 2013

Research: Heart failure accelerates aging process, brings on early andropausal syndrome

Heart failure accelerates the aging process and brings on early andropausal syndrome (AS), according to research presented today at the Heart Failure Congress 2013. AS, also referred to as male 'menopause', was four times more common in men with heart failure.

27 May 2013

OPKO reports more than 50% enrollment in phase 3 trial of Rayaldy for treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism

OPKO Health, Inc., has surpassed 50% enrollment in the first phase 3 trial of RayaldyTM to treat patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and vitamin D insufficiency.

24 May 2013

Potential new treatment approaches for liver diseases

By discovering the new mechanism by which estrogen suppresses lipid synthesis in the liver, UC Irvine endocrinologists have revealed a potential new approach toward treating certain liver diseases.

24 May 2013

Study: Calcium supplements can help women live longer

Taking a calcium supplement of up to 1,000 mg per day can help women live longer, according to a study whose lead author was Lisa Langsetmo, a Ph.D. Research Associate at McGill University, and whose senior author was Prof. David Goltzman, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism in the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and researcher in the Musculoskeletal Disorders axis at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).

23 May 2013

Research findings reveal promising new anti-addiction drug

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have unraveled the molecular foundations of cocaine's effects on the brain, and identified a compound that blocks cravings for the drug in cocaine-addicted mice.

23 May 2013

Study shows PDH enzyme plays a major role in regulation of oncogene-induced cellular senescence

An article published on the journal Nature describes the major role that Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) —an enzyme of cellular energy metabolism— plays in the regulation of the cellular senescence induced by the oncogene BRAF, which usually appears mutated in melanoma and other cancers.

22 May 2013

Study provides comprehensive blueprint for understanding diabetes

Australian scientists have charted the path of insulin action in cells in precise detail like never before. This provides a comprehensive blueprint for understanding what goes wrong in diabetes.

22 May 2013

UIC researchers to study gender differences in how the heart uses and stores fat

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine will study gender differences in how the heart uses and stores fat -- its main energy source -- and how changes in fat metabolism play a role in heart disease, under a new $2 million, 4-year grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

21 May 2013

Researchers identify novel biomarkers for predicting mortality in ICU patients

A metabolic profile of intensive care unit patients based on biomarkers of four metabolites can be used to accurately predict mortality, according to a new study.

21 May 2013

Study shows treatment of sleep apnea in patients with prediabetes improves blood sugar levels

Optimal treatment of sleep apnea in patients with prediabetes improves blood sugar (glucose) levels and thus can reduce cardiometabolic risk, according to a study to be presented at the ATS 2013 International Conference in Philadelphia.

20 May 2013

Scientists unravel complex role of PBs in maintaining cellular homeostasis

As scientists learn more about processing bodies, granules present within normal cells, they are unraveling the complex role PBs play in maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating RNA metabolism and cell signaling.

17 May 2013

People suffering from PTSD have risk of developing type 2 diabetes

The presence of posttraumatic stress disorder is significantly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. This is the finding of scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the University Hospital Gieβen and Marburg who worked with data from the population-based KORA cohort study.

16 May 2013

Researchers see potential in deploying Akkermansia bacteria to understand and treat obesity

A dominant and useful bacterium called Akkermansia muciniphila is present in the intestinal system of all humans, from babies to the elderly. This microorganism is found in the intestinal mucus layer that protects against intruders.

16 May 2013

Research shows fish oils could minimize effects of junk food on brain

Data from more than 180 research papers suggests fish oils could minimise the effects that junk food can have on the brain, a review by researchers at the University of Liverpool has shown.

15 May 2013

All restaurants need to provide consumers with nutritional content of products, new study suggests

As the restaurant industry prepares to implement new rules requiring chains with 20 or more locations to post calorie content information, the results of a new study suggest that it would be beneficial to public health for all restaurants to provide consumers with the nutritional content of their products.

14 May 2013

Researchers unravel a mystery about how pancreatic tumor cells feed themselves

In a landmark cancer study published online in Nature, researchers at NYU School of Medicine have unraveled a longstanding mystery about how pancreatic tumor cells feed themselves, opening up new therapeutic possibilities for a notoriously lethal disease with few treatment options.