Exercise is one of the foundations of a healthy body, but can we get the benefits of exercise in a pill? A recent study by Baylor College of Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, and collaborating institutions identified “a molecule in the blood that is produced during exercise and can effectively reduce food intake and obesity in mice.” This molecule is an amino acid called Lac-Phe. Lac-Phe is “synthesized from lactate (a byproduct of strenuous exercise that is responsible for the burning sensation in muscles) and phenylalanine (an amino acid that is one of the building blocks of proteins).” In mouse trials, Lac-Phe reduced caloric intake in obese mice by 50%. The study’s findings help us to better understand the relationship between exercise and hunger. This is a meaningful step within the science community because “older or frail people who cannot exercise enough, may one day benefit from taking a medication that can help slow down osteoporosis, heart disease or other conditions.”
https://www.bcm.edu/news/the-benefits-of-exercise-in-a-pill-science-is-closer-to-that-goal