New 'exercise drug' could replace working out: study

fitness

by Brooke Steinberg

Tired of working out? There may be a drug for this in the near future.

A new “exercise drug” could replace some, but not all, of the benefits of working out, according to new research.

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have spent a decade creating a new compound that appears to be able to mimic the physical benefits of training, at least in rodent cells, and could serve as an ingredient in future supplements. There is.

The team of researchers, who presented their findings at the American Chemical Society's (ACS) spring meeting, hopes to replicate the physical effects of exercise, particularly the stimulation of metabolism and growth and improved muscle performance.

“Nothing can replace exercise. Exercise is important at every level,” Bahaa Ergendy, professor of anesthesiology and principal investigator on the project, said in a media release. “If you can exercise, it's better to exercise actively.However, there are many cases where a substitute is needed.''

But the discovery could lead to new ways to treat muscle atrophy and other conditions such as heart failure and neurodegenerative diseases.

If the drug can mimic the physical effects of exercise, it could help reduce muscle loss that occurs naturally with age, or for people who are unable to engage in regular physical exercise due to cancer, certain genetic conditions, or other reasons. may be able to compensate for the decline in Activities.

Ergendi added that this “exercise drug” could counter the loss of both muscle and fat caused by other drugs, such as new weight-loss drugs.

When scientists tested it on mice, they found that the compound increased fatigue-resistant muscle fibers, which in turn improved the rodents' endurance when running on a treadmill.

But more testing needs to be done before the pill can be used in humans. Scientists plan to test the compound on other animals as the next step in the research process.