A recent study brought some results which will surely make all people who hate workouts rejoice. Researchers from Salk Institute administered mice a chemical which offered an athletic condition without having to engage in intense physical activity.
During previous research, the scientists discovered how they could determine the mice to produce more of a protein which becomes more active in the body of those who exercise. The protein in question is PPARD (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta).
- PPARD offers better physical endurance.
- Researchers triggered PPARD production by injecting mice with chemicals.
- The mice performed as if they had exercised.
Those mice with the genetically programmed genes exhibited the effects provided by intense exercise. Namely, they did not gain weight, had a better physical condition, and reacted better to insulin. Then, the researchers decided to find a way to boost PPARD levels in non-genetically altered mice.
For eight weeks, they administered these mice a chemical which increases the production of PPARD. Afterwards, they noticed how these mice behaved as if they had been exercising. Namely, they were able to run 70 percent more than regular mice, switching from a period of 160 minutes to 270 minutes.
The PPARD protein is usually activated by exercise. However, researchers now discovered that you can also boost it chemically. The results might be applied in providing someone with more endurance to physical effort without having to train first.
Despite the results, researchers remained puzzled. They could not identify the mechanism behind PPARD. The protein increased the endurance of the mice and helped them lose weight, but it also prevented muscles from using their main source of energy, glucose.
Therefore, they tried to come up with an explanation. They suggested that PPARD stops muscles from using glucose to save it for the brain. Also, muscles will have to resort to another provider of energy, which is fat. This is how the mice were able to run longer and lose weight.
Right now, researchers are trying to introduce the same PPARD-producing chemical in a pill. This should allow humans to burn fat and have a better physical endurance without performing exhausting training and exercise.
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