Anti-obesity vaccine developed
 
US researchers have developed a vaccine which prevents weight gain in rats, offering clues about human treatments. The vaccine prompts the body to produce antibodies against ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates hunger and weight gain. Vaccinated rats put on less weight while eating the same amount as those which did not have the jab. A UK obesity expert said the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study was interesting, but it might not be safe for people. Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California developed three synthetic vaccines that recognise different parts of the ghrelin hormone. The reduction in weight gain occurred despite the rats eating and drinking normally, indicating that the inhibition of ghrelin was having an effect on the animals' metabolism. The researchers said the results demonstrated that active immunisation against ghrelin could be used to control weight gain and accumulation of fat tissue in mammals. Study leader Professor Kim Janda said: "We believe that the active form of ghrelin is what we are blocking but we can't say for certain that's the only effect. "Ghrelin slows down the metabolism so the vaccine is affecting that and also fat storage. This is a promising bit of science." Professor Stephen Bloom, professor of investigative science at Imperial College London, said big pharmaceutical companies had been looking for ways to block the action of ghrelin for years but it had not yet proved effective. "What is surprising about this study is that by producing antibodies to block ghrelin it works as well as it does. This is an important proof of principle but there are problems. For example if you develop antibodies against something you can't get rid of them very easily, so if there's anything bad you can't undo it. And since ghrelin is present in the brain you might start an immune system response against the brain. It's not necessarily a very safe thing to do - I wouldn't want to be a volunteer." (ed note: This is exactly what happens when children are vaccinated against common childhood diseases – and one of the reasons why as long as we have had vaccines, we have had vaccine-associated brain damage as well.) But he added: "Maybe we can find a safer way to do it and in that way the study is useful." Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5232150.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5232150.stmshapeimage_2_link_0
August 2006
WHAT’S ON SEMINAR Children’s Health & Vaccinations 15 August 2006 Manly NSW News & Events Members Section
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