2024-03-24 05:23:00
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Exercise is important, but not everyone can or wants to do sports. According to researchers, there could soon be an unusual solution to this problem – in pill form.
New Orleans – The pill is booming. They are available for headaches, for prevention and soon possibly also for losing weight. Scientists have been working on the pill to combat the pounds for many years, and some people already swear by dietary supplements to boost their metabolism. A huge hype has now arisen around a so-called fat-removal injection, the diabetes drug Ozempic, although some experts warn against its misuse to lose weight.
Those who exercise can often save themselves these miracle cures – or they will soon resort to taking the tablet. In the future, a pill could mimic physical exercise and offer similar benefits to sports training, at least that’s what researchers from the USA are currently claiming.
Sport is good for your health, but for many people it is often not possible for various reasons. Researchers are currently working on an alternative: a pill could soon at least partially replace exercise. © IMAGO
Compounds mimic the effect of training – drug could compensate for muscle loss
Scientists have found new compounds that can mimic the physical effects of exercise in rodent cells, the American Chemical Society (ACS) reported Monday (March 18). A corresponding drug could compensate for muscle loss and weakness and thus pave the way for a new way to treat muscle atrophy and other diseases such as heart failure and neurodegenerative diseases, writes the non-profit organization from Washington DC
The researchers led by Bahaa Elgendy, professor of anesthesiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, wanted to present their results on Monday (March 18) at the ACD spring meeting, the ACD Spring 2024. A short interview with Elgendy can now also be found on the video portal YouTube.
Researcher: Training through a pill “to mimic the effect of exercise”
“We all know that exercise is extremely positive for the body and mind, but not everyone can exercise,” the researcher points out. That’s why “training through a pill could be very useful to mimic or enhance the effect of exercise – for people who are aging, have illnesses or have muscle loss due to other medications.” With a mischievous laugh, he adds a little later: ” So many people like me are lazy, don’t like working out, or are constantly busy. So if you could solve this with a pill…”
Physical activity is actually very important for people and has a positive effect on health. Those who are physically active on a regular basis can improve their general well-being, their cardiovascular system, their physical, mental and social health and also strengthen their musculoskeletal system, writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Sport can extend life, reduce the risk of illness and is also important in old age. Regular jogging, for example, strengthens the lungs and the heart, which can then pump more blood with each beat. According to the latest studies, even small breaks in exercise can enormously improve health and fitness.
Researchers found new compound that activates proteins and strengthens muscle fibers
According to the ACS press release, the core of Elgendy and his team’s research is a compound called SLU-PP-332. The scientists have been researching this for 10 years. It is designed to activate specialized proteins – more specifically, three forms of estrogen-related receptors (ERRs). These receptors regulate the body’s adaptation to stress caused by physical exercise and other processes in the muscle. Researchers tested the compound in mice and found that it strengthened a fatigue-resistant type of muscle fiber and improved the animals’ endurance when running on a rodent treadmill.
The studies with the compound SLU-PP-332 suggested that targeting ERRs could help against various diseases, writes the ACS, citing obesity, heart failure or worsening kidney function with age. In addition, ERR activity appears to counteract damaging processes that occur in the brain in patients with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
But the pill is not intended to replace exercise – new compounds are being tested in animal models
Scientist Elgendy points out: “ERRs play an important role in all of these diseases.” If there was a compound that could effectively activate the receptors, “you could achieve so many positive effects,” he is convinced. He and his colleagues now want to test some of the new compounds they have developed in animal models. It will also be examined whether it can be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
However, the researcher does not want the new findings to be understood as a call to exercise less. “I am not advocating replacing exercise.” Sporting activity remains important at all levels. “If you can train, you should do physical activity.” But there are many cases in which this is not possible. A replacement is needed.
Whether this replacement can really be a pill that simulates the sport remains to be seen. Until then, everyone will probably continue to rely on the traditional methods. That means: put on your running shoes, go to the gym, go Nordic walking or go to the soccer field – there are many ways to get active. There are some effective exercises, especially for the time after getting up, and even beginners can easily start with simple exercises at home. (fn)
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