SHAHEDNEWS: Researchers analyzing genetic data from more than one million people have identified a rare genetic variant that may cause some individuals to burn calories faster and remain naturally slim.
According to SHAHEDNEWS, The results of a study published in the scientific journal Nature show that a rare variant of the FNIP1 gene is found in approximately one in every 7,000 people. This gene naturally helps the body store some of its energy as fat when food is abundant.
According to the study, this genetic variant was also associated with a lower risk of certain metabolic diseases. These included lower cholesterol levels and a reduced risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
However, the researchers emphasize that these findings indicate a statistical association and, on their own, do not prove that the genetic variant directly causes a lower risk of these diseases.
To investigate the findings further, researchers examined the same genetic alteration in laboratory mice. Mice with one copy of the FNIP1 gene inactivated gained less weight despite eating normally, had less body fat, and showed greater insulin sensitivity.
These findings raise the possibility that targeting this biological pathway could eventually lead to new treatments for obesity—treatments that might one day offer an alternative to some weight-loss drugs, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
However, the researchers caution that any such treatment is still in the very early stages of research, and it is not yet known whether targeting this gene would be safe in humans. Inactivating both copies of the FNIP1 gene could interfere with immune system function, cellular energy regulation, and even heart function.
According to Luca Lotta, one of the study’s senior authors, any treatment based on these findings is likely to be “years” away from clinical use. He stressed that the research does not amount to the discovery of a “thin gene” or the imminent development of a new drug, and that it will still be years before the findings could have therapeutic applications.
Therefore, this research should not be interpreted as a weight-loss solution or as a replacement for existing treatments. Rather, it provides a new clue for understanding the mechanisms of metabolism and could help pave the way for the development of future drugs.
