A study conducted by researchers from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center ( PBRC , United States), Proteimax Biotechnology (Israel), and the University of São Paulo's Biomedical Sciences Institute ( ICB-USP , Brazil) showed that ingesting Pep19 helps reduce visceral fat and improve sleep in obese adults. The molecule is a synthetic version of a peptide (a very small piece of protein) naturally found in human cells. Previous studies on animals have shown that Pep19 has anti-obesity effects and improves indicators such as blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
The study was the subject of an article published in the journal Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews.
According to researchers, this occurs due to its effect on the endocannabinoid system, which plays an important role in regulating metabolism, appetite, lipolysis (fat breakdown), and energy release.
Analyses with mice, which had the support from FAPESP , also showed that these benefits occurred without causing side effects, unlike those of other obesity drugs that act on the central nervous system and can trigger adverse effects.
In the most recent study, 24 volunteers between the ages of 46 and 59 who weighed between 91 and 106 kg and had a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 35 kg/m² were evaluated over 60 days in a triple-blind clinical trial. In this type of scientific study, neither the participants nor the researchers nor those responsible for the analysis know which volunteers took Pep19 and which took a placebo.
"They were divided into three groups: placebo, 2 milligrams of Pep19, and 5 milligrams of Pep19, administered orally in capsules once a day before bedtime," says Emer Suavinho Ferro , a professor at ICB-USP's Department of Pharmacology and head of the Intracellular Peptide Pharmacology Laboratory, who participated in the analysis.
At the end of this period, parameters such as quality of life, body composition, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical markers were evaluated. The results showed that the group that received 5 mg of Pep19 had a 17% reduction in visceral fat (which is strongly linked to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes), with no changes in lean body mass.
In addition, all volunteers who received the molecule in either concentration showed improved sleep quality, which is important since poor sleep contributes to obesity and its adverse effects. Notably, no side effects were observed.
"We can also see that the peptide was able to transform part of the white fat, which serves as an energy reserve for the body, into brown fat, which is used for the body's energy production, increasing calorie burning to generate energy and heat, a process that occurs when were exposed to very low temperatures," says Andrea Heimann , a researcher from Proteimax Biotechnology.
The authors of the study emphasize that more extensive and longer-term clinical studies are still needed. However, the beneficial effects, safety, and ease of administration of the molecule reinforce its potential as a practical and effective solution. "This is excellent news, as metabolic problems are one of the great evils of the century, and we face them without many truly effective options," Heimann says.
"New studies are currently underway, and if the results obtained so far are confirmed, Pep19 could become a revolutionary solution for improving the metabolic health and quality of life of millions of people," Ferro celebrates.
About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.
