Scientists found a hidden fat switch and turned it off

"Scientists at Cleveland-based institutions have uncovered a surprising new switch that helps the body make fat -- and turning it off had dramatic effects. Scientists in Cleveland have identified a previously unknown enzyme that the body needs in order to make fat. When researchers blocked this enzyme, it stopped weight gain and reduced unhealthy cholesterol levels. The discovery is now driving development of a potential three-in-one drug aimed at obesity, fatty liver disease, and heart disease."

"Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease Are Rising Worldwide Obesity has become a global health crisis and a leading contributor to illness and early death. It raises the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease and fatty liver disease (MASLD). As diets have shifted toward calorie-dense foods and daily life has become more sedentary, rates of these disorders have climbed steadily around the world."

A previously unknown enzyme is required for fat synthesis in the body. Blocking this enzyme in animal studies halted weight gain, reduced liver damage, and lowered unhealthy cholesterol levels. The enzyme functions as a switch enabling fat production, and its inhibition produced dramatic metabolic improvements. The finding enables development of a potential single medication to simultaneously target obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and cardiovascular disease. Rising global rates of obesity and MASLD are driven by calorie-dense diets and sedentary lifestyles, increasing risks of heart disease and early mortality. Nitric oxide regulates proteins through attachment and influences many biological processes.

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