Liver acid could be ‘elixir’ to extend life, scientists say
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Lithocholic acid boosts muscle regeneration and enhances grip strength and running capacity. A type of bile produced by the liver has similar effects as the commonly followed method of calorie restriction in promoting longevity, Chinese scientists have found.
In a new study, published in the journal Nature on Thursday, the scientists assessed the effects of lithocholic acid, or LCA, in genetically modified mice with human tissues and compared them to calorie restriction. They found that LCA, which is naturally produced by the liver, can boost muscle regeneration and enhance grip strength and running capacity.
Previous research has shown that mammals accumulate LCA during calorie restriction and it activates a key molecule involved in metabolism called AMP-activated protein kinase, or AMPK. AMPK, which is activated when the glucose levels drop, is key to ageing as it regulates processes like inflammation and nerve degeneration.
In experiments on fruit flies and a nematode called C elegans, the scientists found LCA activates AMPK and induces anti-ageing effects in a manner similar to calorie restriction. Since these animals do not synthesise LCA naturally, the research indicates that they gain the effects of LCA once administered.
Rendering the animals incapable of producing AMPK resulted in the loss of the LCA effects when it was administered, confirming that the liver acid acted in an “AMPK-dependent manner”. The scientists took blood serum from mice that underwent calorie restriction for four months and put it into rodents fed a normal diet. They found the injected serum led to AMPK activation in the mice’s liver and muscles.
