Apelin Helps Mice Burn Fat Better
Apelin Treatment Increases Complete Fatty Acid Oxidation, Mitochondrial Oxidative Capacity, and Biogenesis in Muscle of Insulin-Resistant Mice
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists gave a special protein called apelin to mice that were overweight and had trouble using sugar. After 4 weeks, the mice burned more fat, had less fat, lower blood sugar, and better insulin response. This happened because apelin made their muscles build more mitochondria (the cell’s power plants) and burn fat more completely.
Surprising Findings
Apelin reduces harmful fat byproducts (acylcarnitines) while improving insulin sensitivity
Usually, high fat levels in blood or muscle lead to insulin resistance. But here, apelin reduces long-chain acylcarnitines (C16:1 and C18:1) by 20% — a sign of incomplete fat burning — and this correlates with better insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on lifestyle factors that naturally boost AMPK — like fasting, exercise, and certain compounds (e.g., berberine, metformin) — to mimic apelin’s effects.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists gave a special protein called apelin to mice that were overweight and had trouble using sugar. After 4 weeks, the mice burned more fat, had less fat, lower blood sugar, and better insulin response. This happened because apelin made their muscles build more mitochondria (the cell’s power plants) and burn fat more completely.
Surprising Findings
Apelin reduces harmful fat byproducts (acylcarnitines) while improving insulin sensitivity
Usually, high fat levels in blood or muscle lead to insulin resistance. But here, apelin reduces long-chain acylcarnitines (C16:1 and C18:1) by 20% — a sign of incomplete fat burning — and this correlates with better insulin-stimulated glucose uptake.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on lifestyle factors that naturally boost AMPK — like fasting, exercise, and certain compounds (e.g., berberine, metformin) — to mimic apelin’s effects.
Publication
Journal
Diabetes
Year
2012
Authors
C. Attané, C. Foussal, S. Le Gonidec, A. Bénani, D. Daviaud, E. Wanecq, R. Guzmán-Ruiz, C. Dray, Véronic Bézaire, Chloé Rancoule, K. Kuba, M. Ruiz‐Gayo, T. Levade, J. Penninger, R. Burcelin, L. Pénicaud, P. Valet, I. Castan-Laurell
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Claims (10)
Tesamorelin upregulates genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation across the electron transport chain and in fatty acid oxidation, leading to cellular-level metabolic remodeling that enhances fat burning efficiency at the mitochondrial level.
Giving apelin to obese, insulin-resistant mice for a month helps them lose body fat and lowers their blood sugar levels compared to mice given a placebo.
Apelin-treated mice burn fat more completely in their muscles compared to placebo-treated mice, reducing harmful fat byproducts.
Apelin helps mouse muscles use oxygen more efficiently for energy production, especially when using fat as fuel.
Apelin makes mouse muscles produce more mitochondria, the cell's energy factories, leading to better fat-burning capacity.