So did you catch that news (see link at end) about the pill that can fake exercise? No kidding; in adult mice it had the same effect on muscles as a brisk burst of cardio, and since the muscles felt as if they were already in shape, it boosted endurance too when the mice actually exercised.
These are just rodent trials, no humans yet, but the implications are fascinating for everyone from athletes to the aging to those with back injuries.
These are just rodent trials, no humans yet, but the implications are fascinating for everyone from athletes to the aging to those with back injuries.
Of course the rest of the story is more complex, but the headlines
are basically accurate. First they found a receptor triggered by small
molecules of an enzyme that works to replenish cell energy after a
muscle is used. Then they fabricated that enzyme in the lab and tried
it both on "marathon mice" who were already fit and "couch potato" mice
who were the opposite.
The first trial turned out to have a hitch; it only worked if the mice exercised too. But the second batch worked whether or not it was combined with activity (Ronald Evans, one of the study principals at Salk, told Neil Conan on TOTN that a big part of the goal was to spare the bed-ridden from muscle wasting).
The first trial turned out to have a hitch; it only worked if the mice exercised too. But the second batch worked whether or not it was combined with activity (Ronald Evans, one of the study principals at Salk, told Neil Conan on TOTN that a big part of the goal was to spare the bed-ridden from muscle wasting).
The net/net takeaway is that after 20 days on this drug, the
animals behaved as if they had been working out and ran much farther
than the ones who had not been given the pill. Mother Nature had,
indeed, been fooled.
If this works out in humans too, the primary beneficiaries are expected to be people with back pain and spinal problems, the infirm and bed-ridden, and perhaps kids with muscular dystrophy. It could, in theory, also jump start things for the obese who struggle to muster much physical energy. But Evans also agreed with Neil C. that the net net in humans might have some unintended consequence, such as in doping for the Olympics.
They have thought of that aspect as well, Evans said. There is already a blood and urine test for this metabolite and they have given the recipe to the IOC so that if some human athletes ever put it to devious use, the Olympic Committee can catch it.
If this works out in humans too, the primary beneficiaries are expected to be people with back pain and spinal problems, the infirm and bed-ridden, and perhaps kids with muscular dystrophy. It could, in theory, also jump start things for the obese who struggle to muster much physical energy. But Evans also agreed with Neil C. that the net net in humans might have some unintended consequence, such as in doping for the Olympics.
They have thought of that aspect as well, Evans said. There is already a blood and urine test for this metabolite and they have given the recipe to the IOC so that if some human athletes ever put it to devious use, the Olympic Committee can catch it.
Meanwhile, it sounds like the kind of thing I want to take to my couch and read more about.
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