Burnt sugar derivative reduces muscle wasting in fly and mouse muscular dystrophy
Friday, August 2, 2013 - 09:00
in Biology & Nature
A trace substance in caramelized sugar, when purified and given in appropriate doses, improves muscle regeneration in an insect and mammal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The substance, THI, protects the body's levels of a cell signal important in cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Fruit flies and mice with the muscular dystrophy gene both showed improvements in movement, and other reductions of symptoms.