Fatty liver disease reversed by pill in mice
In the search for a pill to combat obesity and its associated co-morbidities, researchers have found a bile acid that is capable of preventing and treating fatty liver disease in mice. In a recent study obese and diabetic mice were fed glycine-beta muricholic acid (Gly-MCA) pills. Even with a high fat diet these mice were less fat and had less insulin resistance than the control group who weren’t given Gly-MCA.
Gly-MCA is a bile acid that can inhibit the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) which maintains metabolism by sensing and regulating bile acids, fats and glucose in the body. The receptor itself plays a complex role in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction in the body and that may be why Gly-MCA had such a large effect on the obesity of the mice. Usually, bacteria break down the bile acids that inhibit FXR, however these researchers found a bacteria resistant acid, Gly-MCA, that also inhibits FXR, allowing them to conduct the study. The drug itself can be consumed in pill form for humans and provides a possible avenue for the treatment of obesity, as well as fatty liver disease. However until now there has been little research into its usage, particularly with regard to toxicity. In the mice, there were no signs of systemic, hepatic or intestinal toxicity, but more work remains to be done in order to fully explore the effects of this drug in animal models and humans.
