Manchester gets grant for appetite suppressant work
research grant by US nutrition technology company PacificHealth
Laboratories, to continue its investigations and product
development in the field of weight loss and type II diabetes.
PacificHealth has collaborated with group leader Professor David Thompson, based at Hope Hospital, for almost two years and previous work has yielded clinical evidence that its appetite suppressant technology may help people with type II diabetes to control their condition though gastric emptying. This reduces peak insulin and glucose levels normally seen after a meal.
The company plans to introduce its appetite suppressant formula, which is said to activate appetite regulatory peptides.
With his current research, Prof Thompson is focusing on how certain nutrients can stimulate peptide, such as cholescystokinin. The amount of the grant from PacificHealth has not been specified.
"The potential of activating appetite regulatory peptides represents an exciting approach to both weight control and management of type II diabetes," said Prof Thompson. "Although there are major ongoing efforts on developments of drugs to potentiate appetite regulatory peptides, the selective use of specific nutrients may represent a more effective and better long-term solution."
An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.
In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 billion, with $92 billion being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.
