The compound has been suggested to have
anti-aging properties from past studies.
SRT1720 activates a class of enzymes known as sirtuins, which are
associated with the same positive health effects as calorie restriction.
In obese mice,
scientists found improved liver, heart and pancreas function, compared to mice
not given the patented compound.
The study is a collaborative
effort of the National Institute on aging (NIA) and the drug company Sirtris, a
GlaxoSmithKline company, and is published in the August
18, 2011, issue of Scientific Reports.
Drug
suppresses gene pathway linked to aging
“This study has
interesting implications for research on the biology of aging. It demonstrates
that years of healthy life can be extended in an animal model of diet-induced
obesity by a synthetic compound that modulates a gene pathway associated with
aging," said NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D.”
For the study,
NIA researchers used one year old obese male mice, comparing the effect of SRT1720 to a control group.
The scientists
fed one group of mice a high fat diet, and the other regular foods. Both groups
received either a high dose of SRT1720, a low dose of SRT1720 or no SRT172.
Senior author
Rafael de Cabo, Ph.D., of the Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology at the NIA
said "As we hypothesized, SRT1720 mimics dietary restriction, moderating
many of the harmful effects of the high-fat diet and obesity. Furthermore, we found
that the higher dose of the compound had a stronger effect and there were no
signs of toxicity from SRT1720 even after 80 weeks of treatment.”
Mice given the
compound lived 4 percent longer than the untreated group, and 18 percent longer
with a higher dose of SRT 1720, even though they gained weight from the high-fat
diet.
Even with a
high-fat diet, liver function remained normal in mice given the treatment. The compound
protected the pancreas from insulin resistance.
High dose
SRT1720 boosted HDL- the good - cholesterol levels in mice given a high-fat
diet. The compound decreased inflammation and prevented death of heart cells.
The researchers
also saw anti-aging effects in the liver, brain and kidneys, which they same
came from the ability of the drug to suppress gene expression that comes from a
high-fat diet.
The drug was
studied in 2008 for its potential for burning fat. In the study, mice were
given a high-fat diet, but did not gain weight.
Until the more research
is done, no one knows if the SRT1720 mouse studies could apply to humans. The anti-aging,
anti-obesity drug might help humans someday, but for now, the best remedy to
stay young is through diet and exercise.
Comments