A new therapeutic approach using nitric oxide resulted in far-reaching positive changes in metabolism and alleviated the effects of obesity and type 2 diabetes. (Image: VectorMine/stock.adobe.com)
Metabolic syndrome: New treatment approach
A novel therapy alleviated the effects of severe obesity and type 2 diabetes due to the use of Nitric Oxide. The experimental treatment had far-reaching positive effects on the entire metabolism.
Researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (USA) demonstrated that treatment with nitric oxide alleviated disease progression in obese mice with type 2 diabetes. The results were recently published in the scientific journal "ACS Applied Materials& Interfaces" presented.
Nitric oxide alleviates metabolic syndrome
A novel therapy alleviated obesity and type 2 diabetes in mice fed a high-fat diet. The core aspect of the treatment is the sustained release of nitric oxide by a newly developed gel. According to the research team, the nitric oxide leads to a Relaxation of internal muscles of blood vessels.
"Since reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide is the hallmark of the metabolic syndrome If the patient's heart rate is too low, the permanent supply of exogenous nitric oxide could be an effective method of treating the syndrome," explains head of research Jeonga Kim.
Approach could work in various metabolic diseases
"The strategy of reducing body weight by local administration of nitric oxide could be a new, efficient and safe way to prevent and treat various metabolic diseases," Kim emphasized.
Nitric oxide is released via gel
The nitric oxide is released via a special nanomatrix gel injected under the skin. The gel releases a greater amount of nitric oxide in the first 24 hours. Then over the course of four weeks a constant smaller amount.
Procedure of the study
In the study, obese mice with type 2 diabetes received an injection of the nitric oxide gel every two weeks for 12 weeks. A control group of mice received the same high-fat diet but no gel treatment.
More extensive changes after 12 weeks
At the end of 12 weeks, the group of mice receiving nitric oxide treatment had an average of 17 percent less fat mass built up than the control group. The research group was able to demonstrate the effect on an increased Lipolysis attributable. This is a biochemical process for the breakdown of fats.
In addition, the mice from the nitric oxide group showed a improved glucose tolerance as well as a Decreases in fasting insulin and leptin levels. Also, general reduced inflammation levels and it was possible to positive changes in metabolism be detected.
In addition, the research group documented a Increase in brown and beige adipose tie, which, in contrast to white adipose tie, is considered to be beneficial to health.
Nitric oxide gel protected against fatty liver
Furthermore, the nitric oxide gel also protected the animals from non-alcoholic fatty liver, which often develops in the context of a high-fat diet. The mice from the nitric oxide group had a lower liver weight, lower blood lipid levels and less cholesterol in the blood than mice in the control group.
Positive effects on cognition
The positive effects were also confirmed in a cognitive test of spatial learning ability. The animals that received the nitric oxide gel performed better in a maze test than the mice from the control group.
Efficacy in humans remains to be verified
The researchers see the approach as a novel, efficient, and safe way to Prevention and treatment of various metabolic diseases. Now, upcoming studies need to verify whether the therapy is equally effective and safe in humans. (vb)
– University of Alabama at Birmingham: A novel therapy ameliorates obesity and Type 2 diabetes in mice fed a high-fat diet (published: 29.04.2022), uab.edu – Guang Ren, Patrick Tae Joon Hwang, et al.: Subcutaneous Administration of a Nitric Oxide-Releasing Nanomatrix Gel Ameliorates Obesity and Insulin Resistance in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice; in: ACS Applied Materials& Interfaces (2022), pubs.acs. This article contains only general information. Should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. It cannot replace a visit to the doctor.