Could drugs replace gastric bypass surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most successful treatments for obesity and related disorders; however, some patients may not want to undergo surgery.

In an attempt to reduce and replicate the effects of , researchers screened for inhibitors of an amino acid transporter, called B0AT1, and discovered a number of agents—including benztropine, a drug that is already in clinical use—as promising candidates.

"These compounds are just a start and need to be developed further, but they could potentially replace surgical procedures and be used together with other drugs to treat type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Stefan Bröer, senior author of the British Journal of Pharmacology study.

More information: Qi Cheng et al, Identification of novel inhibitors of the amino acid transporter BAT1 (SLC6A19), a potential target to induce protein restriction and to treat type 2 diabetes, British Journal of Pharmacology (2017). DOI: 10.1111/bph.13711

Journal information: British Journal of Pharmacology
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Citation: Could drugs replace gastric bypass surgery? (2017, February 8) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-02-drugs-gastric-bypass-surgery.html
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