Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have uncovered a groundbreaking mechanism in the liver that could transform weight-loss strategies and diabetes management. Their study, published in Cell Metabolism, focuses on the Plvap gene, which regulates the liver’s ability to switch from burning sugar to fat during fasting.
By turning off the Plvap gene in mice, researchers found that the liver continued burning sugar even during fasting, bypassing the usual metabolic adaptation that slows calorie burning. This discovery could help counteract the weight-loss plateau often experienced by patients using medications like Wegovy or Ozempic.
While human trials are still far off, lead researcher Kim Ravnskjaer emphasizes the potential of this finding to enhance treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases.
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