The research team is composed of members of the laboratory of Professor Ken Ho of the Garvan Institute of medical research in Sydney, and Professor Ric day, in a medical clinic of the Hospital San Vicente.
Leader of the study, Dr. Paul Lee, an endocrinologist based his doctoral thesis on various hormones influencing metabolism. Paramount of these is a class called Catecholamines that regulate heart rate, breathing and metabolism of hormones.
Formoterol is synthetic catecholamines, including metabolic effects that have not been previously studied in people. Dose of treatment in animals, however, have shown that it stimulates metabolism without affecting the heart.
"We have known for a long time Catecholamines influencing the way the body of nutrients including fat and protein trafficking", said Lee.
"Because of the generation of drugs before formoterol was operated in the livestock industry: 20 years to reduce fat and increase the protein content of meat." "Unfortunately, these older drugs also caused a faster heartbeat.".
"Formoterol is a new generation of this class of drugs." "It is highly selective for the type of receptors for Catecholamines will be found in the lungs and not in the heart".
"The new drug is also more selective for a similar receptor found in muscle and fat." "In theory at least, should have beneficial metabolic effects: as the largest class of drugs - without affecting the heart."
Reading of the drug in its oral form, which is the dose required to give a metabolic effect and has given more than a week to 8 men in good health.
"Energy metabolism has increased by more than 10%, burning an increase of more than 25%, while the fire protein has dropped by 15%, fat, he said.
"So despite the increase in the metabolism of the body, these men burned fat reducing protein burning." It's good, because in the long term, these effects can lead to loss of fat and increase muscle.
"In this study, all 8 articles tolerate medication, without any significant increase in heart rate.
The next step is to test the drug over a long period in a broad sample of people to determine if the benefits are translated into improved body, health and functioning composition.
(Source: Instituto Garvan)
