It is a known fact that one of the biggest problems of our age is obesity. Scientists are also aware of this situation and have been searching for a solution for years. Now, there has been a development that can be critical in the fight against obesity. A group of scientists working at UT Southwestern University discovered that some drugs used for migraine can be used to combat obesity.
According to the article published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the triptan used for migraine patients is a very effective method in the treatment of obesity. Scientists doing research on obese mice found that mice given triptan once a day began to eat less, and as a result, they lost weight. So much so that the triptan suppressed appetite.
The rapid results of the drug are important for critically ill patients.
After examining the obese mice for seven weeks, the scientists found that the mice lost 3.6 percent of their body weight in their measurements on the 24th day. In the same period, the body weight of the mice that were not given the drug increased by 5.1 percent. Chen Liu, the number one name of the research who made statements on the subject, said, “We found that triptan-type drugs, and one in particular, can lower body weight in less than a month and improve glucose metabolism. This is quite impressive.” said. Using the method in humans can enable critically obese patients to lose weight quickly.
The scientific community knew that the neurotransmitter serotonin is related to appetite. However, there was an important mystery here. There were 15 different serotonin receptors in the body, and it wasn’t clear which one or which ones were related to appetite. The new study revealed that triptan targets serotonin 1B (Htr1b). Thus, an issue that has been wondered for a long time has been revealed. While revealing the effect of triptan on obesity, the research also showed which receptor of serotonin is associated with appetite.
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