A new drug made from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard has shown to be effective in reducing cravings for food. What will they think of next?!
Exenatide is a pharmaceutical drug prescribed to patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, which helps patients control their blood sugar. It is actually a synthetic version of a natural substance called exendin-4, which is obtained from the saliva of the lizard.
And there may be more even more benefits. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg tested the drug on rats, and discovered that it reduced their cravings for food and chocolate.
“This is both unknown and quite unexpected effect,” Assistant Professor Karolina Skibicka states. “Our decision to eat is linked to the same mechanisms in the brain which control addictive behaviours. We have shown that exendin-4 affects the reward and motivation regions of the brain.”
The implications of the findings are significant” adds Suzanne Dickson, Professor of Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy: “Most dieting fails because we are obsessed with the desire to eat, especially tempting foods like sweets. As exendin-4 suppresses the cravings for food, it can help obese people to take control of their weight.”
