Obesity is a public health problem that has grown significantly in recent decades. It is estimated that by 2035, 43% of adults in the country will suffer from obesity. Losing weight is complicated and depends on many factors, such as diet, sleep, and exercise. In addition, each person’s genetic profile also influences the effectiveness of weight loss, which explains why two people can get different results with the same workout.

In this context, each new scientific discovery generates hope. Recently, a research team from Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University have discovered a natural compound called BHB-Phe, which could be key to regulating appetite and body weight.

β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is a ketone body that our body produces during ketosis, a state that is reached, for example, with a ketogenic diet. Until now, it was known that BHB was transformed into other energy molecules. However, the Stanford team discovered that BHB also binds to amino acids thanks to an enzyme called CNDP2, creating new compounds called BHB amino acids. The most abundant of these amino acids, BHB-Phe, activates neurons in the brain that suppress appetite. In experiments with mice, deleting the CNDP2 gene was found to increase food intake and body weight.

What is most interesting is that this metabolic pathway is also present in humans. This means that BHB-ylation of amino acids could be a new way to regulate energy balance and combat obesity. According to Dr. Jonathan Z. Long, “in the future it may be possible to consume BHB-Phe to lose weight without restricting carbohydrates.”

This discovery, published in the journal Cell, offers new hope in the fight against obesity, opening the door to new strategies for weight control and metabolic health.