The return of 2,4-dinitrophenol
Banned Weight Loss Medicine Fights Liver Disease and Diabetes
Medical news based on the materials of Science: Banned weight-loss drug could combat liver disease, diabetes
Researchers report that a new form of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) with a slow release of the substance treats rats from diabetes (type 2 – VM) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NLP).
Currently, there are no approved drugs for simultaneous treatment of diabetes mellitus and NZHD, an incurable condition that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. "This is one of the biggest unmet requests of modern medicine," says hepatologist Rohit Loomba from the University of California, San Diego (University of California, San Diego).
During the First World War, DNP was used as an industrial chemical and explosive. Often the consequence of its exposure was weight loss, and sometimes death.
Due to the observed effect of weight loss, in the 1930s DNP became part of over-the-counter pills for weight loss. Later, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The USA banned it because of the development of cataracts and several deaths of patients.
Despite its bad reputation, DNP also has advantages. By changing the activity of mitochondria, it causes the body to burn fat and has some other positive metabolic effects.
Endocrinologist Gerald Shulman from the Yale University School of Medicine and his colleagues proposed to reconsider the use of DNP. Scientists in their new study (Perry et al., Controlled-release mitochondrial protonophore reverses diabetes and steatohepatitis in rats – VM) we have created a new form of the drug with a slow release of the substance. This reduced the level of liver lipids in rats by about 90%, their insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels improved, fibrosis leading to cirrhosis and liver failure decreased. Moreover, the development of diabetes was reversed in rats from the experimental group.
Experts agree that if DNP proves safe and effective in further studies, it will be able to get approval from the FDA, despite its dark history.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru06.03.2015