Exercise : Scientists Isolate Link to Health Benefits

Scientists isolate protein linking exercise to health benefits

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers have isolated a protein produced in muscle cells that triggers some of the important benefits from exercise. The protein, which researchers named 'irisin,' switches on genes that convert adipose tissue to beneficial fats that help the body burn more off more excess calories than exercise alone.

Hormone discovery could yield exercise-mimicking drugs for metabolic and other disorders.

The scientists said their findings merely scratch the surface of irisin's multiple effects. They are continuing to explore the hormone's possible benefits in metabolic diseases like diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity, which constitute a growing epidemic around the world, as well as neurodegenerative illnesses like Parkinson's disease.Link

Bruce Spiegelman, PhD, a cell biologist at Dana-Farber and senior author of the report added that as growing evidence implicates obesity and physical inactivity in cancer development, it's conceivable irisin-based drugs may have value in prevention and treatment of the disease.

Reference:

Boström P, Wu J, Jedrychowski MP, Korde A, Ye L et al. A PGC1-α-dependent myokine that drives brown-fat-like development of white fat and thermogenesis. Nature doi:10.1038/nature1077. Published online 11 January 2012

The Zestzfulness Team says,

“Why wait, get out and exercise regularly!”