Can the light be used to treat obesity and diabetes?

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel theoretical model called the thermogenin-like system (TLS) that could potentially treat obesity and diabetes by mimicking chemical uncouplers' mechanism without their harmful side effects.

Contribution

The paper introduces the TLS model as a new theoretical approach to safely replicate chemical uncouplers' effects for treating obesity and diabetes.

Findings

TLS could reproduce uncouplers' mechanism safely in vivo

Potential to develop new obesity and diabetes treatments

Addresses side effects of chemical uncouplers

Abstract

The treatment of obesity and diabetes remains a challenge and the biological mechanisms of these diseases are still not fully understood. Diabetes and obesity are associated with increased risk of the development of cardiovascular complications and there is an urgent need to find novel therapeutic approaches for treating obesity and diabetes. Currently there are several approaches to treat these diseases. Among them chemical uncouplers could be used as an effective treatment for obesity but the dangerous side effects of these compounds has limited their use in vivo. Here we propose a novel theoretical model based on the mechanism of action of chemical uncouplers: the thermogenin-like system (TLS). The TLS may be used in vivo to reproduce the mechanism of action of chemical uncouplers but without their dangerous side effects.