AI Finds Plant Extracts with Weight Loss Potential

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AI Finds Plant Extracts with Weight Loss Potential

AI Finds Plant Extracts with Weight Loss Potential

Emerging technologies have long been an integral part of the quest for weight loss. Most recently, an AI-based study from the Catholic University of Murcia, Spain, identified two plant extracts that have GLP-1 agonists, potentially usable for weight loss pills. While glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide have been touted as highly effective at helping people lose weight over the years, experts have also noted side effects associated with their use, including gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and mental health changes like anxiety and irritability.

As such, researchers have looked towards plant extracts and other natural compounds for alternatives, noting that these may have fewer side effects. The study involved a virtual screening sifting through more than 10,000 compounds to identify those that bound to the GLP-1 receptor. AI-based methods were then used to study how closely these bonds resembled those between the GLP-1 hormone and its receptor. 100 compounds that indicated these results were chosen for further analysis.

This resulted in a shortlist of 65 compounds, two of which, dubbed “Compound A” and “Compound B,” bound strongly to the key residues in a similar way to TTOAD2 (a non-peptide agonist of GLP-1) and orforglipron, an oral, non-peptide GLP-1 weight loss drug by medicine company Eli Lilly. Currently, researchers are still in the early stages of developing new GLP-1 agonists from these natural sources to help come up with other therapeutic options for obesity management.

GLP-1 for weight loss

GLP-1 is a gut hormone released by specialized cells after you eat. GLP-1 typically functions by boosting the amount of insulin the body makes to help maintain your blood sugar. While the body naturally produces GLP-1, it only lasts about two to three minutes upon release. On the other hand, the drug form of GLP-1, known as GLP-1 agonists, can last up to 14 hours in your body, resulting in more lasting effects.

While GLP-1 agonists were initially approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, further research has led to their approval and use for weight loss. Among the types of GLP-1 for weight loss available on the market, FDA-approved semaglutide Wegovy has helped patients lose an average of 15% in baseline body weight. This is twice as much as other types of FDA-approved weight loss medications. To get prescribed GLP-1 for weight loss, patients must meet FDA requirements such as having a body mass index of 30 or more or 27 or more with a weight-related complication such as hypertension or high cholesterol.

As research and digital technology continue to combine to develop natural forms of GLP-1, it’ll be interesting to see how the weight loss medication market will look in the future.

AI and weight loss

Of course, this isn’t AI’s first foray into developing healthy weight loss solutions. AI technology has long been an integral part of the fitness world. It’s currently a prominent feature in technologies like smartwatches, smart mirrors, smart home gyms, and Peloton systems. Meanwhile, tech giants like Apple continue to expand their AI capabilities. Today, AI can help provide insights on your nutrition and sleep as well as provide workout tips. Fitness equipment companies have also relied on AI software to help you detect your reps, speed, the weight you’re lifting, and even your form in some cases.

Artificial intelligence has also helped provide personalized nutrition interventions and advice for patients seeking healthy and sustainable means of weight loss. A recent Scientific Reports study looked at AI nutrition recommendations using a deep generative model and popular large language model, ChatGPT. Researchers noted that ChatGPT can help provide accurate personalized nutrition advice in the form of weekly meal plans. Additionally, the chatbot can also help expand one’s original meal database with equivalent meals from other cuisines, helping boost meal variety and accommodate particular dietary needs such as vegan, gluten-free, and people with specific allergies.

Other GLP-1 alternatives

Ultimately, the AI-based study identifying plant extracts as GLP-1 agonist alternatives is a great step toward healthy weight loss. At the same time, it’s not the only alternative being worked on. In July 2024, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced the company was developing a needle-free alternative to weight loss injections. The company reported long-awaited results from a 20-person study of an anti-obesity pill taken once daily. While details weren’t provided in terms of the formulation of the drug, Pfizer’s shares rose as much as 3.1%, and the company announced that it would move the pill to a mid-stage study in the second half of 2024.

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Another sustainable and healthy alternative to GLP-1, of course, is the adoption of healthy lifestyle changes. This includes increasing and maintaining regular physical activity, improving sleep quality, and eating healthily. If you’d like tips for eating healthily, you may want to check out our post on growing mushrooms. Mushrooms are a healthy, fast, and easy-to-prepare ingredient that you can integrate into your daily meals and snacks.