Everyone looks up to having a good body. Whether you are male or female, no one would mind having abs to show for the extra work that they put in the gym. However, unfortunately for many of us, the fact of the matter remains : while we may not be lacking so muchin motivation, the fact that our hectic routines don’t leave much space about for proper exercise means that many of us cannot achieve the body shape that we want to. Fortunately enough, there might be a new study to suggest that it is possible otherwise, too. What if you can build muscle or stay fit without every exercising.
Indeed a new and very compelling study led by scientists based from the Washington University School of Medicine has gone on to find a novel gene therapy that has the capabilities to prevent obesity as well as build muscle. With regards to the new study, it has been found that with the aid of this gene therapy, you can stay fit without there ever being the need for exercise.
Follistatin is a protein which is found in pretty much all of the animal tissue that exists. This protein was discovered not so long ago – dating its discovery to 1980. While initially follistatin was actually investigated for the role it plays as being a reproductive hormone, it was also subsequently discovered that the protein has also laid its influence on a number of cellular processes – including the likes of muscle proliferation.
Animal studies that have taken place in the past have demonstrated one major aspect : the amplification of follistatin expression in order to counteract certain degenerative muscle diseases. Also much to the amazement of many, this new research also touched on the possibilities of whether this particular type of therapy has the capabilities to treat the likes of osteoarthritis with the aid of increasing muscle mass and reducing metabolic inflammation – which of course happens to be linked to obesity.
Indeed many scientists have seen to the fact that obesity is the most common risk factor that exists for osteoarthritis. With that said, it isn’t too hard to imagine then that being overweight can in fact hinder a person’s ability to exercise as well as benefit fully from the advantages that ensue within with regards to physical therapy.
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On the basis of such foundations then, a study was conducted which was surrounded around the actions that were there to be seen with regards to young mice receiving a single gene therapy treatment that was designed solely to enhance the follistatin expression. Indeed as with regards to the animals being fed a high-fat diet, progression of post-joint injury osteoarthritis was subject to being observed.
The experiment conducted was termed as being “profound” as the animals, while being fed a high-fat diet, did not actually gain any extra weight – even though they weren’t exercising any more than intheir normal course. The results were exceptionally notable because of the fact that the gene therapy resulted in the mass mitigation of cartilage degeneration, synovial inflammation, as well as bone remodeling that is linked with both joint injury as well as osteoarthritis.
This also isn’t the very first time that we’re seeing the idea of follistatin gene treatment being posed and linked so as to being available for human therapies. The idea is being investigated as a potential therapy for cancer, kidney disease as well as cystic fibrosis. Also, since there have been past trials so as to conclude the safety measurements, it has been said that for now, no adverse effects of such practices are to be found. But for now though, the lack of sheer variations mean that the conclusive evidence is not as strong as one might want it to be.
This particular new research has also gone on to suggest that the follistatin gene therapy has the capabilities to generate a large number of multifactorial effects as it isn’t just limited to influencing muscle mass. Indeed there is evidence to the point that the gene therapy can in fact have an influence on broad metabolic activities that can somehow counter caloric intakes that exist within high fat diets.
For now of course, developing a pragmatic approach would be the wise thing to do –not only for those that have had the responsibility to conduct the experiment, but also for all those who hope to rid themselves of any fitness related issues.
But then again, the idea is nonetheless quite exciting. Just the possibility that humans may, in the future, be able to treat obesity without there being the requirement of any major dietary change is very promising. Also of course to go along with the possibility of obesity treatment exists the likelihood that subjects can build muscle mass without exercising or spending excessive amounts of time in the gym is no less promising.
For now though, something like this can years and years to develop. Much more research is required on the subject since this particular idea is very complicated to say the least. But of course much of the work required has already been done courtesy of the discovery in itself – and so, exciting times do lie ahead!
