Combining Exercise With Hormone Could Prevent Weight Gain

Heralded as a promising obesity treatment, the hormone leptin lost its fat-fighting luster when scientists discovered overweight patients were resistant to its effects. But pairing leptin with just a minor amount of exercise seems to revive hormone's ability to fight fat again, University of Florida researchers recently discovered.

The combination of leptin and a modest dose of wheel running prevented obese rats on a belt-busting, high-fat diet from gaining weight, even though neither tactic worked alone, say UF researchers, writing in the journal Diabetes.

" They do not run enough to use sufficient energy to prevent weight gain, " said Philip Scarpace, Ph. D. , a professor of pharmacology and therapeutics in the UF College of Medicine and senior author of the study. " What the act of running appears to do is allow the leptin to work again. It is a demonstration that this simple act can reverse leptin resistance. "

More than 34 percent of American adults - about 72 million people - are obese or overweight, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists had hoped to wield leptin, a hormone that sends body chemical signals to stop eating and use stored energy, as a weight-loss weapon. Studies in lean animals were promising, but overweight animals and people do not respond same way, likely because their bodies already overproduce leptin, causing them to develop resistance to the hormone, Scarpace said.

" Obese animals and humans do not respond to leptin at all, " he said. " Our lab is interested in elucidating why this is case. We know that often single-entity treatments are not successful. The concept was maybe a dual-entity treatment would work. "

To test this, researchers decided to pair leptin with exercise, comparing effects on both normal-weight and obese rats kept on high-fat diets, which simulate the type of fast-food-filled fare many Americans eat.

The rats were further separated into three groups to test three approaches. One group received leptin, another group got an exercise wheel and the third group got both leptin and a wheel. In normal-weight rats, leptin and exercise both worked to prevent weight gain. The normal-weight rats ran significantly more than their bulkier peers, logging in about two and a half miles a day on their wheels, and kept off weight proportionally to how much they ran. The rats were allowed to run as much as they chose.

In the obese rats, which ran six to eight times less, neither running nor leptin alone kept weight from accruing. Giving rats leptin actually caused them to gain more weight than eating a high-fat diet alone, the study shows.

" This is a startling finding. Leptin is expected to reduce body weight, not promote weight and fat gain, " Scarpace said.

But the obese rats that ran and took leptin kept the extra weight off, Scarpace said. More research is needed to understand exactly why this combination works, but scientists speculate that low level of running triggered a metabolic change in the rats that cleared the way for leptin signal to get through.

" They should have been gaining weight, " Scarpace said. " They don't run enough to make any difference. "

Christopher Morrison, Ph. D. , an assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University who wrote a commentary about UF study in Diabetes, said he thinks discovery has potential to help combat obesity in humans.

" That's the hope and reason for doing this type of work, " he said. " The study raises many questions. If we can improve leptin sensitivity and enhance ability of signal to get through, maybe it'll lead to weight loss. "

UF researchers are now aiming to team with doctors and test leptin and exercise combination in humans. They also are working on additional studies to better understand leptin's effects and its signaling pathway. Scientists still can't pinpoint exactly why overweight people develop resistance to leptin and what role the hormone really plays in obesity.

" Leptin may be cause of obesity rather than a cure, " Scarpace said. " Unless we run. "

Collaborating with Scarpace on study were Alexandra Shapiro, Ph. D. , Michael Matheny, Yi Zhang, Ph. D. , Nihal Tümer, Ph. D. , Kit-Yan Cheng, Enda Rodrigues and Sergei Zolutukhin, Ph. D.

The University of Florida Health Science Center - most comprehensive academic health center in Southeast - is dedicated to high-quality programs of education, research, patient care and public service. The Health Science Center encompasses the colleges of Dentistry, Public Health and Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine, as well as Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and an academic campus in Jacksonville offering graduate education programs in dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy. Patient care activities, under banner UF&Shands, are provided through teaching hospitals and a network of clinics in Gainesville and Jacksonville. The Health Science Center also has a statewide presence through satellite medical, dental and nursing clinics staffed by UF health professionals; and affiliations with community-based health-care facilities stretching from Hialeah and Miami to Florida Panhandle.

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Modern medicine: Lisinopril.

uses of Lisinopril

Lisinopril belongs to a group of medications called ACE inhibitors. It is used to treat high blood pressure ( hypertension ) in adults and in children 6 years of age and older. It works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. High blood pressure reduction helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems.

Lisinopril is also used after an acute heart attack to improve survival, and is used with other drugs ( e. g. , " water pills " /diuretics, digoxin ) to treat congestive heart failure.

how to use of Lisinopril

Take Lisinopril by mouth, usually once a day or as directed by your doctor. You may take Lisinopril with or without food. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help we remember, use it at same time each day.

If we are taking Lisinopril in liquid suspension form, shake bottle well before each use. Measure dose out carefully.

Do not take potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. This medicine can raise your potassium levels, which rarely can cause serious side effects such as muscle weakness or very slow heartbeats. Tell your doctor immediately if these effects occur.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. For treatment of high blood pressure, it may take 2 to 4 weeks before the full benefit of Lisinopril occurs. It may take several weeks or months to see the full benefit when Lisinopril is used for congestive heart failure.

It's important to continue taking Lisinopril even if we feel well. Most people with high blood pressure don't feel sick.

other used of Lisinopril

This section contains uses of Lisinopril that are not listed in approved professional labeling for drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use Lisinopril for a condition that's listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

Lisinopril may also be used to help protect kidneys from damage due to diabetes.

side effects of Lisinopril

You may experience headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, dry cough or blurred vision as your body adjusts to medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Lisinopril because he or she has judged that benefit to we is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Lisinopril don't have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur:

Lisinopril may rarely cause serious ( possibly fatal ) liver problems. If you notice any of the following highly unlikely but very serious side effects, seek immediate medical attention:

A very serious allergic reaction to Lisinopril is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if we notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

precautions of Lisinopril

Before taking Lisinopril, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other ACE inhibitors ( e. g. , captopril, benazepril ) ; or if we have any other allergies ( including an allergic reaction after exposure to certain membranes used for blood filtering ) .

Lisinopril should not be used if we have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

Before using Lisinopril, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

Lisinopril may make we dizzy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.

To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness due to lowering of your blood pressure, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position. Serious loss of body water can also lower your blood pressure and worsen dizziness. Drink adequate fluids to prevent from becoming dehydrated. If you are on restricted fluid intake, consult your doctor for further instructions. Be careful not to become too overheated during exercise which can lead to excessive sweating. Consult your doctor if you experience severe vomiting or diarrhea.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that we are taking Lisinopril.

Caution is advised when using Lisinopril in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to effects of drug, especially the dizziness effect.

Lisinopril is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to an unborn baby. Consult your doctor for more details. ( See also Warning section. )

It isn't known if Lisinopril passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding isn't recommended due to the potential harm to the nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

interactions of Lisinopril

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Don't start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Before using Lisinopril, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription products we may use, especially of:

A very serious reaction may occur while use Lisinopril if you're getting injections for bee/wasp sting allergy ( desensitization ) and are also taking Lisinopril. Make sure all your doctors know which medicines we are using.

Check labels on all your medicines ( e. g. , cough-and-cold products, diet aids ) because they may contain ingredients that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

This document doesn't contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Lisinopril, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all products we use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Lisinopril with US shipping

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