A recent paper published in the journal Nature by researchers at Georgetown University found that the forced expression of a protein in a laboratory strain of obese mice showed a remarkable reduction of their fat mass. The protein FGFBP3 (BP3) was found to modulate glucose metabolism and to reduce bodily fat by more than 33% fat in mouse models of metabolic syndrome.
In obese mice, the expression of exogenous BP3 reduced hyperglycemia, hepatosteatosis and weight gain and the research team concluded that BP3 could be used to reverse the pathology associated with metabolic syndrome.
According to Dr Wellstein, eight BP3 treatments over 18 days caused over 33% fat reduction in obese mice. The BP3 protein treatment also reduced blood sugar in obese mice to a significant extent.
Further studies would be required to assess the BP3 effect in human subjects.
