Originally published October 31 2005
Oregon researchers discover hormone that aids in weight loss
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Primate research at Oregon Health & Science University has isolated a hormone called PYY that aids with weight loss.
Research at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) at Oregon Health & Science University has demonstrated that a hormone found naturally in the body has the ability to cause limited weight loss.
Specifically, the research revealed that peptide YY (PYY) can reduce food consumption in the morning, leading to a mild level of weight loss in the short term.
Previous studies at ONPRC and OHSU helped demonstrate that PYY can inhibit food intake.
"While PYY, caused some weight loss in this study, the hormone does not seem to be a silver bullet to fight obesity," said Michael Cowley, Ph.D., an assistant scientist in the Division of Neuroscience at ONPRC.
This is a long way from knowing if chronic treatment will cause stable weight loss," said study co-author and ONPRC scientist Kevin Grove, Ph.D. "While the studies showed that PYY caused mild but reliable inhibitions in food intake, we still want to know if the drug promotes weight loss through changes in metabolism.
If PYY does increase metabolism, it may be useful in combination with other therapies, or with diet and exercise, to prevent weight regain."
To conduct the research, scientists studied nine rhesus macaque monkeys fed high-fat diets and given infusions of PYY at differing intervals throughout a two-week period.
Analysis of the data revealed that animals given high doses of PYY twice daily averaged 2 percent body weight loss that was maintained during two weeks of treatment.
"There is an urgent need for improved therapies for weight loss assistance in the United States," explained study co-author and ONPRC scientist Judy Cameron, Ph.D. "The country is currently facing an obesity epidemic.
This health crisis can also be linked a variety of associated disorders, including skyrocketing diabetes rates and heightened heart and stroke risks.
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