Aspirin's fat burning mechanism found
McKayMachina
Posts: 2,670 Member
Just saw this article on reddit. Any sci-nerds wanna help us determine how/if this impacts weight loss?
:drinker:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/04/20/3481356.htm
Aspirin's fat burning mechanism found
Carolyn Herbert
ABC
Friday, 20 April 2012
It may be great for curing a splitting headache, but scientists have now discovered that aspirin also activates an enzyme that burns fat, a finding that could unlock its cancer fighting properties, according to a new study.
Previous research has shown that once ingested, aspirin breaks down into salicylate, a compound derived from plants such as willow bark, and used as a drug for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians recorded the medicinal use of willow bark in their manuscripts.
In the 1890s, pharmaceutics developed a modified form of salicylate to make it less irritating to the stomach - creating the drug aspirin.
More recently, research has known that salicylate triggers a molecular pathway that leads to pain relief.
Now a team led by Professor Grahame Hardie, a cell biologist at the University of Dundee in Scotland, has discovered how salicylate affects metabolism. They report their findings today in the journal Science.
Hardie and his team suspected that salicylate affected an enzyme known as AMPK, which is a key regulator of cell metabolism.
To test this, researchers compared a control group of mice, with another group that lacked a sub-unit of the AMPK enzyme. They injected both groups of mice with salicylate and measured the rate at which they utilised fat.
They found that the mice with AMPK were able to burn fat at a faster rate. This indicated that salicylate switches on AMPK, increasing the breakdown of fat.
"It's exciting that we've discovered salicylates are working in a new and different way to what we originally thought," says Hardie.
Implications for cancer
Hardie says recent studies have shown that people who take aspirin over long time periods appear to have a lower incidence of cancer. But doctors warn against prolonged aspirin use, which can cause stomach bleeding.
"I'm particularly interested in these protective effects against cancer," says Hardie. "Further research may help us discover another way of taking salicylate, other than aspirin, which has fewer side-effects."
He explains that anti-cancer effects may be due to the activity of AMPK, as diabetic drugs that target AMPK in cells are also associated with a reduced incidence of cancer.
Dr Briony Forbes, a biochemist at the University of Adelaide, says findings in this study are likely to explain recently identified protective effects against cancer by aspirin.
"The surprising finding that salicylate promotes AMPK activity also opens up exciting avenues for diabetes prevention and treatment."
The study was supported by the Wellcome Trust.
:drinker:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/04/20/3481356.htm
Aspirin's fat burning mechanism found
Carolyn Herbert
ABC
Friday, 20 April 2012
It may be great for curing a splitting headache, but scientists have now discovered that aspirin also activates an enzyme that burns fat, a finding that could unlock its cancer fighting properties, according to a new study.
Previous research has shown that once ingested, aspirin breaks down into salicylate, a compound derived from plants such as willow bark, and used as a drug for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians recorded the medicinal use of willow bark in their manuscripts.
In the 1890s, pharmaceutics developed a modified form of salicylate to make it less irritating to the stomach - creating the drug aspirin.
More recently, research has known that salicylate triggers a molecular pathway that leads to pain relief.
Now a team led by Professor Grahame Hardie, a cell biologist at the University of Dundee in Scotland, has discovered how salicylate affects metabolism. They report their findings today in the journal Science.
Hardie and his team suspected that salicylate affected an enzyme known as AMPK, which is a key regulator of cell metabolism.
To test this, researchers compared a control group of mice, with another group that lacked a sub-unit of the AMPK enzyme. They injected both groups of mice with salicylate and measured the rate at which they utilised fat.
They found that the mice with AMPK were able to burn fat at a faster rate. This indicated that salicylate switches on AMPK, increasing the breakdown of fat.
"It's exciting that we've discovered salicylates are working in a new and different way to what we originally thought," says Hardie.
Implications for cancer
Hardie says recent studies have shown that people who take aspirin over long time periods appear to have a lower incidence of cancer. But doctors warn against prolonged aspirin use, which can cause stomach bleeding.
"I'm particularly interested in these protective effects against cancer," says Hardie. "Further research may help us discover another way of taking salicylate, other than aspirin, which has fewer side-effects."
He explains that anti-cancer effects may be due to the activity of AMPK, as diabetic drugs that target AMPK in cells are also associated with a reduced incidence of cancer.
Dr Briony Forbes, a biochemist at the University of Adelaide, says findings in this study are likely to explain recently identified protective effects against cancer by aspirin.
"The surprising finding that salicylate promotes AMPK activity also opens up exciting avenues for diabetes prevention and treatment."
The study was supported by the Wellcome Trust.
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Replies
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This must be the reason its included in a ECA stack..Aspirins also supposedly very good for thinning the blood to stave off heart problemsin low doses..0
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A lean body does not come in a pill.0
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A lean body does not come in a pill.
Well, that's a given. But it's still an interesting find worth my curiosity.0 -
This must be the reason its included in a ECA stack..Aspirins also supposedly very good for thinning the blood to stave off heart problemsin low doses..
That's what I thought of: people who take an aspirin in the morning for a healthy heart. I wonder if they might be more apt to burn fat?0 -
Oh this is brilliant! When people start downing tons of aspirin in an effort to lose weight, it will do what we in health care call "job creation", which is to say, we'll have thousands of new patients coming in with life threatening GI bleeds. I guess there'll be no shortage of overtime. :drinker:0
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Oh this is brilliant! When people start downing tons of aspirin in an effort to lose weight, it will do what we in health care call "job creation", which is to say, we'll have thousands of new patients coming in with life threatening GI bleeds. I guess there'll be no shortage of overtime. :drinker:
Wait...what?0 -
Oh this is brilliant! When people start downing tons of aspirin in an effort to lose weight, it will do what we in health care call "job creation", which is to say, we'll have thousands of new patients coming in with life threatening GI bleeds. I guess there'll be no shortage of overtime. :drinker:
Haha that's what I was thinking.0 -
Oh this is brilliant! When people start downing tons of aspirin in an effort to lose weight, it will do what we in health care call "job creation", which is to say, we'll have thousands of new patients coming in with life threatening GI bleeds. I guess there'll be no shortage of overtime. :drinker:
Wait...what?
Large doses of aspirin can cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. People are quick to jump on the "magic weight loss pill" bandwagon, so they'll start downing a lot of aspirin, leading to lots of GI bleeding, leading to "job creation" in the medical field, as the above poster jocularly referred to it as.0 -
Too much aspirin is bad for the gut.
Also, this is a study done on mice. Not relevant to humans. On its own, it means nothing.0 -
Exactly what I was thinking Badger. A friend's husband had that happen from taking it for his heart. Ended up with pin size holes burnt into his stomach & intestine.0
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Oh this is brilliant! When people start downing tons of aspirin in an effort to lose weight, it will do what we in health care call "job creation", which is to say, we'll have thousands of new patients coming in with life threatening GI bleeds. I guess there'll be no shortage of overtime. :drinker:
Wait...what?
Meaning that aspirin affects the body's blood clotting and can cause serious bleeding in the stomach and other areas like the brain so not to be taken indiscriminately. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.0 -
I take aspirin right now for my headaches and stuff, but I wouldn't mind that added benefit. The problem really is that this is posted here but the referenced study is not... Don't want to go there until you know the unit per ounce ratio...
Just remember, that when they "proved" that aspartame caused cancer, that was based on mice... But it was debunked because when you adjusted for the average human, the dosage that caused cancer would be like eating 2lbs of straight aspartame every day.
Lots of things are very beneficial in small amounts, and detrimental in high doses. That's kind of the idea behind homeopathic medicine.0 -
Don't take the aspirin, EC stack by itself will work just fine.This must be the reason its included in a ECA stack..Aspirins also supposedly very good for thinning the blood to stave off heart problemsin low doses..0 -
So there are a few unintended side effects. What's a little gastrointestinal ulcerated bleeding and kidney damage and corpse reanimation among a statistically irrelevant (unless it includes yourself) number of customers... We've just been taken one step closer to the Zombie Apocalypse in the names of miracle science and better health, no less!0
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Ya ever notice at the end of the Bayer commercials they say to consult with your doctor before starting an aspirin regimen? They say that for a reason.0
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Yea, I wouldn't recommend just taking aspirin lol ^_^ There are safer ways to burn fat.0
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But yes upregulating AMPK increases fatty acid oxidation. AMPK is like an energy meter for your body. It blocks genes that make fatty acids and upregulates genes that shuttle fatty acids into the mitochondria where they're used for energy.0
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Oh, well I know that taking aspirin as a fat burner is a ridiculous idea. I have no intention of ever taking any medicine regularly, especially daily, if I can avoid it.
I guess I didn't think about the dumbasses. Never do. :laugh:
I couldn't care less about people abusing or not abusing medicine. I am just curious and exploring the topic.
songbyrdsweet: Thank you. That was exactly the type of insight I was after. :drinker:0 -
Oh, well I know that taking aspirin as a fat burner is a ridiculous idea. I have no intention of ever taking any medicine regularly, especially daily, if I can avoid it.
I guess I didn't think about the dumbasses. Never do. :laugh:
I couldn't care less about people abusing or not abusing medicine. I am just curious and exploring the topic.
songbyrdsweet: Thank you. That was exactly the type of insight I was after. :drinker:
You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity. 0 -
You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity.
Oh wow! I had no idea gut bacteria was even a factor. That's really interesting. Thank you again for the great reply!
I know this is kind of a tangent, but it's really amazing how internal bacteria levels can drastically change body function. It seems to affect just about everything.0 -
You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity.
Oh wow! I had no idea gut bacteria was even a factor. That's really interesting. Thank you again for the great reply!
I know this is kind of a tangent, but it's really amazing how internal bacteria levels can drastically change body function. It seems to affect just about everything.
It SO DOES!!! Makes me want to geek out all over the place.
I love my research area. 0 -
Do you know of any evidence that aspirin increases AMPK activity in humans?You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity.
Oh wow! I had no idea gut bacteria was even a factor. That's really interesting. Thank you again for the great reply!
I know this is kind of a tangent, but it's really amazing how internal bacteria levels can drastically change body function. It seems to affect just about everything.
It SO DOES!!! Makes me want to geek out all over the place. I love my research area.0 -
Do you know of any evidence that aspirin increases AMPK activity in humans?You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity.
Oh wow! I had no idea gut bacteria was even a factor. That's really interesting. Thank you again for the great reply!
I know this is kind of a tangent, but it's really amazing how internal bacteria levels can drastically change body function. It seems to affect just about everything.
It SO DOES!!! Makes me want to geek out all over the place. I love my research area.
Well no one really can give humans enough aspirin/NSAIDS to knock out their gut bacteria since that causes horrible ulcerative bloody side-effects. ^_^0 -
Oh, well I know that taking aspirin as a fat burner is a ridiculous idea. I have no intention of ever taking any medicine regularly, especially daily, if I can avoid it.
I guess I didn't think about the dumbasses. Never do. :laugh:
I couldn't care less about people abusing or not abusing medicine. I am just curious and exploring the topic.
songbyrdsweet: Thank you. That was exactly the type of insight I was after. :drinker:
You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity.
So that's the question people should be asking what can they do via diet and exercise to increase AMPK?
Isn't gut bacteria implicated somehow in weight gain. If gut flora not good can have weight gain?0 -
Oh, well I know that taking aspirin as a fat burner is a ridiculous idea. I have no intention of ever taking any medicine regularly, especially daily, if I can avoid it.
I guess I didn't think about the dumbasses. Never do. :laugh:
I couldn't care less about people abusing or not abusing medicine. I am just curious and exploring the topic.
songbyrdsweet: Thank you. That was exactly the type of insight I was after. :drinker:
You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity.
So that's the question people should be asking what can they do via diet and exercise to increase AMPK?
Isn't gut bacteria implicated somehow in weight gain. If gut flora not good can have weight gain?
Your diet and exercise already influence AMPk. But AMPk is not the whole picture and that would be a gross oversimplification - there are many other things going on that influence the big picture. So no, people should not ask themselves that.
But even specifically with AMPk, it's not as simple as "increasing AMPk = good". For example, increase AMPk will inhibit protein synthesis. If your goal is to gain muscle, this is counterproductive.
Another example: alcohol may activate AMPk. I'm sure you can see how this may give some people the wrong idea.
My point is that the typical dieter does not really need to be concerned about AMPk in order to achieve their goals.0 -
Oh, well I know that taking aspirin as a fat burner is a ridiculous idea. I have no intention of ever taking any medicine regularly, especially daily, if I can avoid it.
I guess I didn't think about the dumbasses. Never do. :laugh:
I couldn't care less about people abusing or not abusing medicine. I am just curious and exploring the topic.
songbyrdsweet: Thank you. That was exactly the type of insight I was after. :drinker:
You're welcome! AMPK is actually a re-occurring theme in my lab since we study skeletal muscle metabolism. It's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status, etc. Not surprised about the aspirin...it knocks out your gut bacteria, and no gut bacteria = higher AMPK activity.
So that's the question people should be asking what can they do via diet and exercise to increase AMPK?
Isn't gut bacteria implicated somehow in weight gain. If gut flora not good can have weight gain?
Your diet and exercise already influence AMPk. But AMPk is not the whole picture and that would be a gross oversimplification - there are many other things going on that influence the big picture. So no, people should not ask themselves that.
But even specifically with AMPk, it's not as simple as "increasing AMPk = good". For example, increase AMPk will inhibit protein synthesis. If your goal is to gain muscle, this is counterproductive.
Another example: alcohol may activate AMPk. I'm sure you can see how this may give some people the wrong idea.
My point is that the typical dieter does not really need to be concerned about AMPk in order to achieve their goals.
I was replying to "it's influenced in a lot of ways just by training/nutritional status". I am not trying to oversimplify it.0
This discussion has been closed.
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